It’s a good idea
to hire an experienced inspector
to thoroughly check your potential
new home. Many items will require
the skilled eye of a professional
to determine if there is a problem.
Plus, the time you spend with the
inspector can give you a wealth
of important and invaluable information.
This is an opportunity to learn
all you can about the house; you
shouldn’t miss it.
Should you want
to do your own Inspection
BEFORE you hire
a professional to examine the
house.
The following checklist will help
you determine any potential and/or
existing problems with the house.
Yes
No
Drainage
1. Is there
dampness under the house?
2. Are there
footprints or ribbed patterns
in the dirt under the house
indicating when it rains,
water creeps in?
3. Is there
mold (black or green) on
wood under the house indicating
heavy moisture?
4. Does
the ground outside slope
away from the house? (If
it slopes into the house,
you’ve got serious problems.)
Foundation
1. Do you
see cracks in the foundation
when you walk around the
exterior of the house? (Hairline
cracks almost always occur
and should be disregarded.)
2.Are the
cracks wider at the top
than at the bottom? This
indicates actual breakage,
a serious problem if the
top
of the break is a quarter
inch or more.)
3.Is there
an actual separation in
the foundation? (This indicates
not enough steel reinforcement
was used when the foundation
was built.)
4. In a
slab house, does the floor
feel uneven when you walk
over it indicating cracks
hidden under carpet or tile?
5. Under
the house, do any of the
girders sag? This indicates
that the foundation has
slipped. ( ) ( )
Roof
Wood Shake Roofs
1. Are there
pieces of the roof lying
on the ground around the
house? (This is an obvious
bad sign.)
2. Using
binoculars, can you see
missing shingles anywhere
on the roof?
3. Are there
any signs of leakage in
the ceiling or on walls
inside the house?
Composition Shingles
1. Is the
color of the shingles good,
or are they starting to
fade (a sure sign of wear)?
2. Are the
edges of the shingles curling
up? (A sign of wear in hot
climates.)
3. Are there
any bare spots on the roof?
(
4. Are there
any signs of leakage in
the ceiling or on walls?
Aluminum Shingles
1. Are there
signs of the color fading
or peeling? (The shingles
may keep the weather out,
but will look terrible.)
2. Are there
any dents or separations
in the shingles indicating
someone has walked on them?
3. Are there
any signs of leakage in
the ceiling or on walls
inside the house? ( ) (
)
Tiles
1. Are any
tiles broken?
2. Have
any fallen off?
3. Are there
any signs of leakage in
the ceilings or on walls?
Paint (Interior)
1. Are there
marks on the walls?
2. Is the
current paint in good condition,
or is flaking indicating
it will have to be sanded
before new paint can be
applied?
3. Are the
colors light? (Covering
dark colors may require
two or more new coats.)
Paint (Exterior)
1. Is the
paint chipping or peeling?
2. Are the
colors faded? (This indicates
aging paint.)
3. Is the
caulking around windows
starting to fall out?
4. Is the
aluminum siding firm, not
becoming detached?
5. Are the
gutters falling? Is the
paint on them peeling?
Plumbing
1. Is the
plumbing copper instead
of galvanized steel? (Galvanized
steel lasts about 30 years,
sometimes less – copper
lasts virtually forever.)
2. Are there
leaks at the joints of galvanized
pipes? (These are usually
visible under the house
or in the garage; they indicate
electrolytic action may
be corroding the pipes,
and they may need to be
replaced.)
3. Are there
leaks under the sinks in
any of the bathrooms or
in the kitchen?
4. Is the
water heater old? (The date
is sometimes stamped on
the label – a water heater
rarely lasts more than seven
years.)
5. Does
the water heater have a
safety valve? (This is vitally
important. If you’re not
sure what a safety valve
is, have a professional
check it out.)
Wiring
1. Do switches
or sockets spark when used
2. Are there
inoperative lights or switches?
Heating
1. Does
the flame in the furnace
turn yellow and rise high
above the burners? (A bad
sign indicating a ruptured
combustion chamber.)
2. Do you
smell gas around the furnace?
(A very bad sign – call
the gas company immediately.)
3. If there
is radiant heat or heating
that requires plumbing,
are there any leaks?
Fireplace
1. From
the outside, is the fireplace
tight against the house,
or can you see a separation?
(A separation is a big danger
sign – have a professional
check it out.)
2. Are there
any visible cracks in the
external bricks?
3. Are there
any cracks in the firebricks
inside the fireplace?
Tile
Are there
any cracks in the tile of
the kitchen or bathrooms?
(Cracks can be caused simply
by dropping something heavy
on the tile or can be symptomatic
of the house movements and
a cracked foundation.)
Termite Report
1. Is there
a termite report?
2. Are you
getting a termite clearance?
3. Will
the seller pay for all repair
work? (Normally the buyer
pays for any preventive
work.
