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Home Inspection Checklist - Home Inspectors
Although architectural details, wall and floor coverings, modern conveniences and many other factors are important in the buying decision, the focus of this inspection is on the structural/mechanical/electrical condition of the property. The inspection is designed to give the real estate agent or prospective purchaser a system to detect some of the readily accessible major flaws or deficiencies in the significant components and systems of a home. It is not designed to, nor does it profess to facilitate detection of all flaws, problems or occurrences that might exist in any given home. To maximize time efficiency and to ensure all of the major sections of the home are take into consideration, we have developed a systematized approach to the inspection. This is a simplified overview of systems that professional home inspectors use when they are inspecting a home. To assist you in following the system, we have provided a checklist that will guide you through your own inspection. THE INSPECTION SYSTEM THE BIG PICTURE The first step in inspecting a home is to examine the big picture for the home. Notice the area the home is located in. Are there other homes of similar age and construction details relative to the home you are inspecting? A comparison will give you a general idea of the upkeep of the home. Have there been significant modifications to the exterior of the building and if so, how is the workmanship? EXTERIOR Start at the exterior front of the house and work your way around the house (clockwise or counter-clockwise) at a distance which allows you to view a complete face comfortably. On each face (front, sides, rear) start your visual inspection at the top of the structure and work your way down to the ground and lot area. As an example, you would start at the front and note the roof and chimneys, the gutters, fascia and soffits. Then, moving down the exterior wall coverings (brick, wood, aluminum), noting windows, doors, etc. Examine any porches or decks down to the foundation, then the grade or slope of the lot area, followed by any coverings, such as flower beds, walkways, interlocking brick, driveways, etc. Move closer to the house, to examine more closely any details which may have attracted your attention, without skipping any items. Having completed the front, move to the side of the house and start the same procedure (roof to ground). INTERIOR On the interior, begin your inspection in the basement and then follow the system throughout each floor in the house. The system for inspecting the interior is to begin with the floor, go to the walls and then the ceiling, and then consider any appliances or other items in the room. Move from room to room, always in the same direction (clockwise or counter-clockwise) so as to not miss any areas. If you see a door, open it! In the utility room in the basement, first notice the floor, the walls (possibly the foundation walls are visible here), then the ceiling (floor joists may be visible), then go to the furnace, hot water heater, electrical panel, plumbing system, etc. When inspecting the floors, walls and ceilings, scan the entire area that is visible, not just one section. In a finished room you would notice the floors, walls (including windows) and ceiling. Next look for the heat sources, electrical outlets and switches, fireplaces, closets etc. In bathroom or kitchen, notice the floor, walls and ceiling, then the plumbing fixtures. CONDITION While performing the inspection, whether at the exterior, the interior or one of the mechanical systems, note the system first, then its relative condition. For example, if you were inspecting a wall on the interior of the home you would first note that the wall is plaster, and then examine the wall for cracks and irregularities. PROBLEMS The following are some typical problems or occurrences to look for in the major components and systems of the home. ROOF Is the ridge (peak) showing a sag, or is it straight and level? Is the roof sagging between the rafters or trusses? Are there any signs of deterioration of asphalt shingles, such as curling, wasping, broken edges, rounded corners or key holes (slits) becoming wider that normal? Any loose flashings, at the chimney, roof-to-wall connection or elsewhere?Does the wooden roof deck appear rotten or delaminated under the last row of shingles? Are there any roof vents visible? CHIMNEYS Is the masonry cap cracked or broken?Are any bricks flaking or missing? Mortar missing?Is the chimney leaning? SOFFITS AND FASCIA Note whether the soffit and fascia are wood, aluminum or plasticAny loose or missing sections? If wood, are there any paint problems? Any visible rot? GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS Ensure gutters slope down toward downspoutsAny rust or peeling paint? Apparent leaks or loose/sagging sections? Are the downspouts extended away from the foundations? WALL COVERINGS Look for missing mortar Are the bricks flaking or cracking? Look for loose, missing or rotten siding, deteriorated paint. Does the siding appear new? Does it hide the foundation wall? Exterior walls bowed, bulged or leaning? WINDOWS AND DOORS Look for problems with paint or caulking, and rotted wood components.Are the windows new or older? Are they the original windows? How old are they? PORCHES AND DECKS Cracking or flaking masonry? Check for paint problems, rotted wood, and wood-earth contact. Note any settlement or separation from the house. Inspect the underside, if accessible. FOUNDATIONS Check for cracks, flaking or damaged masonry. Note any water markings and effluorescence (whitish, chalky substance)Any bowing, buldging or other irregularities? Soft mortar? LOT AREA Does the grade slope away from the house? Any settled/low areas next to the foundation, or cracked walks/driveway?Is the property lower than the street or neighboring properties? BASEMENT Note any evidence of water penetration (stains, mildew/odors, effluorescence, loose tiles etc.) FLOORS Check for deteriorated coverings or cracked ceramics.Any water staining or other damage?Sloping or sagging? WALLS Randomly sample to check that the windows and doors work.Are the walls straight vertically and horizontally?Look for cracked or loose plaster.Look for stains, physical damage or previous repair evidence.Any drywall seams or nails showing? CEILINGS Check for cracks in the plaster or loose, sagging plaster.Look for stains, mechanical damage or evidence of previous repair.Seams or nails showing? BATHROOMS AND KITCHENS Check that all fixtures are secure.Are there any cracks in the fixtures?Note the conditon of the tiles and caulking in the tub/shower area.Are the faucets working? Do they leak? Sufficient water pressure?Look for staining and rot under the counter-topsRandomly sample the operation of the cabinet doors and drawers. ELECTRO-MECHANICAL CONSIDERATIONS Type, style and age of heating & cooling systems. When were they last inspected or serviced?Type of water supply piping and drains - any visible rust and corrosion? Size and age of electical service - are the outlets grounded? Visible wiring in good condtion?Have there been any upgrades? Vist our website for a printable Pre-Inspection Checklist Article submitted by the American Home Inspector Directory American Home Inspector Directory - Home Inspectors Nationwide
MORE RESOURCES: Altadena’s rough real estate market: Slower sales, lower prices, lottery winner plucking up properties Los Angeles Times Real estate magazine reports Les Wexner as Blue Heron buyer The Martha's Vineyard Times Real estate expert warns socialist mayoral candidate could trigger massive NYC exodus - Fox Business Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson sets up shop in the Valley, records show The Business Journals Bedrock flexes its real estate portfolio to grow Detroit's tech ecosystem - Crain's Detroit Business Bedrock flexes its real estate portfolio to grow Detroit's tech ecosystem Crain's Detroit Business ‘Taken advantage of’: Real estate agent ripped off friends, church, and federal government WSOC TV Experts predicted Minnesota real estate agents would quit, 5 INVESTIGATES found a different reality 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS Office real estate wide open in Denver as vacancy rate hits 36 percent Colorado Public Radio 5 Essential Tech Tools for Real Estate Agents National Association of REALTORS® Vail Valley real estate inventory is on the rise VailDaily.com Real Estate Partners Dollar Tree Let's Talk Business: June residential real estate sales lagging, heritage grants and more Pueblo Chieftain A New Perspective: Here Comes the Groom | Real Estate Insights Piedmont Exedra Dawson County weekly real estate transactions, July 18 Central Nebraska Today State lawmaker joins Westport commercial real estate brokerage as vice president Hartford Business Journal Boston Real Estate Times Unveils 2025 Excellence Award Winners: Honoring the Visionaries Shaping New England’s Future Boston Real Estate Times Bard College hires real estate advisor and broker to sell Simon’s Rock campus - The Berkshire Edge Private Credit Surges in 2025 as Real Estate Developers Bypass Banks The World Property Journal Real estate news: Senior apartments in Tustin sell for $83M; Fullerton Metrocenter snares $118M Orange County Register NAR Real Estate Forecast Summit National Association of REALTORS® New York Housing Market Trends 2025: Is the Tide Turning for Buyers? Norada Real Estate Investments Today’s Mortgage Rates: The States Offering Lowest Rates – July 18, 2025 Norada Real Estate Investments Los Angeles Water & Power commits $100 to real estate debt Pensions & Investments Property management with an owner’s mindset J.P. Morgan Corcoran McEnearney Announces Evan Lacopo to Lead the Number One Real Estate Office in Alexandria, Virginia Alexandria Living Magazine Real Estate Market Report (June) highlandscurrent.org Licking County real estate transfers for June 30-July 4 range from $200,000-$14.6 million The Newark Advocate SRS Real Estate Partners Arranges $4.53 Million Ground Lease Sale of Walmart Property in Deltona, FL citybiz Banner Real Estate Group Breaks Ground on 334-Unit The Faywell Multifamily Development in The Heart MultifamilyBiz Bridgemarq Real Estate Services® Declares Dividend Yahoo Finance Moon Becomes Next Real Estate Frontier, NAR Reports Higher Foreign Investment In US Huntsville Business Journal CBRE Announces Strategic Leadership Appointments Across U.S. & Canada Advisory Business Boston Real Estate Times Gravelle advises on current real estate market in Grant County Columbia Basin Herald Mapletree Sells Sun Belt Warehouse Portfolio to EQT Real Estate for $241M Commercial Observer Operation Pawssible: Greenbrier Humane Society gets a boost from local real estate company Mountain Messenger GenesisM Breaks Ground on 154,000-Square-Foot Biomanufacturing Facility in Bedford, MA Boston Real Estate Times AGC MA Announces 5th Annual Building Advancement Externship to Bridge Educators with STEM Construction Careers Boston Real Estate Times What's the most expensive property sold in Rhode Island? July 18 real estate transactions The Providence Journal Frederick Ford, real estate executive and first Black Union League Club president, dies at 98 Chicago Tribune The Pipeline: Commercial real estate roundup for 7.18.25 Richmond BizSense Home Buyers: Stop Freaking Out After the Home Inspection National Association of REALTORS® LOCAL REAL ESTATE TODAY 7.18.25 KQEN News Radio Home Buyers May Have Accepted a New Norm on Rates National Association of REALTORS® Tips on spotting real estate investment opportunities and avoiding risks, from experts at GR Property Group Community Impact SRS Real Estate Negotiates $4.5 Million Sale of Walmart-Anchored Property in Metro Orlando Shopping Center Business Top Stocks for Real Estate Investment Elite AI Stock Forecasts - Massive wealth growth Jammu Links News Miami-Dade’s self-storage surge a boom for real estate IslanderNews.com July Economist Snapshot: What Will the Big Beautiful Bill Mean for Commercial Real Estate and Housing? Urban Land Magazine Hunt Companies Acquires Controlling Interest in Carter, Strengthening Real Estate Development Platform Business Wire Stage Point Europe Launches Its RWA Token $SPET, Setting it up as a Bridge Between Crypto and Real Estate Morningstar Vend Leans Into Verticalisation As Real Estate Revenue Grows 11% In Q2 onlinemarketplaces.com New plans unveiled for Water Street’s second phase Tampa Bay Times Is Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Inc. a good long term investment - Explosive market performance Jammu Links News Cary Grant’s widow has listed the estate they shared for $77.5M — featuring a complete overhaul New York Post Drake Real Estate Partners closes largest fund yet after pivoting to institutions Private Equity Real Estate | PERE Real Estate Transfers ~ June 25, 2025 The Bedford Citizen Real estate sales in Jefferson, Bullitt and Oldham counties for Jan. 2-5, 2025 - The Courier-Journal Real estate sales in Jefferson, Bullitt and Oldham counties for Jan. 2-5, 2025 The Courier-Journal Wood County Recorder reports on second quarter real estate activity BG Independent News CCI Real Estate Obtains $67M in Construction Financing for Mixed-Use Community at University of Georgia REBusinessOnline Real estate transfers: Lake Township condominium complex sells for $5.61 million - Canton Repository Manitowoc's real estate transfers include a sale of nearly $1 million to Riverside Dairy Herald Times Reporter |
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