Home Inspection Checklist
The following checklist gives you an idea of what we inspect. Not all items apply to all houses, and a checklist is not a substitute for an inspection report. Preferred Home Inspection performs a complete inspection, takes photos, and makes notes that are helpful to homeowners.
Exterior/Yard
- Proper grading drainage away from house
- No evidence of standing water
- No leaks from septic tank or leech field
- Yard, landscaping, trees and walkways in good condition
- No branches or bushes touching house or overhanging the roof
- Exterior structures (fences, sheds, decks, retaining walls, detached garages) in good condition, no evidence of termite damage or rotted wood
- Railings on stairs and decks are adequate and secure
- Driveways, sidewalks, patios, entrance landings in good condition, and pitched away from structure
- Downspout drainage directed away from structure
Structure
- Ridge and fascia board lines appear straight and level
- Sides of house appear straight, not bowed or sagging
- Window and doorframes appear square (especially bowed windows)
- Visible foundation in good condition – appears straight, plumb, with no significant cracks
Exterior Surfaces
- Adequate clearance between ground and wood siding materials (6″ minimum); no wood-to-earth contact
- Siding: no cracking, curling, loose, rot or decay
- Masonry veneers: no cracks in joints, no broken, spalling or flaking components
- Stucco: no large cracks (discuss all stucco cracks with a professional inspector)
- Vinyl or aluminum siding: no dents, damage, no bowing or loose siding
- No vines on surface of structure
- Exterior paint or stain: no flaking or blisters
- No stains on exterior surfaces
Windows, Doors and Wood Trim
- Wood frames and trim pieces are secure, no cracks, rot or decay
- Joints around frames are caulked
- No broken glass (window or storm panes) or damaged screens, no broken double-paned, insulated window seals
- Storm windows or thermal glass used
- Drip caps installed over windows
Roof
- Composition shingles: no curling, no cupping, no loss of granulation particulate, no broken, damaged or missing shingles, no more than two layers of roofing
- Wood shingles or shakes: no mold, rot or decay, no cracked/broken/missing shingles, no curling
- Flat roofs: no obvious patches, no cracks or splits, minimal blisters/’alligatoring’ and wrinkles, no silt deposits (indicates improper drainage), sealed tar at flashings
- Flashing around roof penetrations
- No evidence of excess roofing cement/tar/caulk
- Soffits and fascia: no decay, no stains
- Exterior venting for eave areas: vents are clean and not painted over
- Gutters: no decay or rust, joints sealed, attached securely to structure, no bending or sagging, no sections of gutter or downspout missing, gutters clean, no mud deposits
- Chimneys: straight, properly flashed, no evidence of damaged bricks or cracked joints, mortar/cement cap in good condition
Attic
- No stains on underside of roofing, especially around roof penetrations
- No evidence of decay or damage to structure
- Sufficient insulation and properly installed insulation (moisture barrier installed closest to the heated area of the house)
- Adequate ventilation, clear path into attic for air entering through soffit vents, adequately sized gable end louvers, all mechanical ventilation operational
- No plumbing, exhaust or appliance vents terminating in attic
- No open electrical splices
Interior Rooms
- Floors, walls and ceilings appear straight and plumb and level
- No stains on floors, walls or ceilings
- Flooring materials in good condition
- No significant cracks in walls or ceilings
- Windows and exterior doors operate easily and latch properly, no broken glass, no sashes painted shut, no decay; windows and doors have weather-stripping, ‘weep holes’ installed
- Interior doors operate easily and latch properly, no damage or decay, no broken hardware
- Paint, wall covering, and paneling in good condition
- Wood trim installed well and in good condition
- Lights and switches operate properly
- Adequate number of three pronged electrical outlets in each room
- Electrical outlets test properly (spot check)
- Heating/cooling source in each habitable room
- Evidence of adequate insulation in walls
- Fireplace: no cracking or damaged masonry, no evidence of back-drafting (staining on fireplace façade), damper operates properly, flue has been cleaned, flue is lined
Kitchen
- Working exhaust fan that is vented to the exterior of the building
- Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (“GFCI”) protection for electrical outlets within 6 feet of the sink(s)
- Dishwasher: drains properly, no leaks, baskets, door spring operates properly
- No leaks in pipes under sinks
- Floor in cabinet under sink solid, no stains or decay
- Water flow in sink adequate
- No excessive rust or deterioration on garbage disposal or waste pipes
- Built-in appliances operate properly
- Cabinets in good condition: doors and drawers operate properly
Bathrooms
- Working exhaust fan that doesn’t terminate in the attic space
- Adequate flow and pressure at all fixtures
- Sink, tub and shower drain properly
- Plumbing and cabinet floor under sink in good condition
- If sink is metal, it shows no signs of rust, overflow drain doesn’t leak
- Toilet operates properly
- Toilet stable, no rocking, no stains around base
- Caulking in good condition inside and outside of the tub and shower area
- Tub or shower tiles secure, wall surface solid
- No stains or evidence of past leaking around base of bath or shower
Miscellaneous
- Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors where required by local ordinances
- Stairway treads and risers solid
- Stair handrails where needed and in good condition
- Automatic garage door opener operates properly, stops properly for obstacles
- Crawl Space
- Adequately vented to exterior
- Insulation on exposed water supply, waste and vent pipes
- Insulation between crawl space and heated areas, installed with vapor barrier towards heated area
- No evidence of insect damage
- No evidence of moisture damage
Plumbing
- Visible pipes: no damage, no evidence of leaks, no signs of stains on materials near pipes; drain pipes slope slightly down towards outlet to septic/sewage system
- Water heater: no signs of rust, vented properly, sized to produce adequate quantities of hot water for the number of bedrooms in the house.
- Water pump: does not short cycle
- Galvanized pipes do not restrict water flow
- Well water test is acceptable (where applicable)
- Hot water temperature between 118 -125 degrees Fahrenheit
Electrical
- Visible wiring: in good condition, no ‘knob-and-tube’ wiring, no exposed splices, cables secured and protected
- Service panel: adequate capacity, all cables attached to panel with cable connectors; fuses or breakers are not overheating
- No aluminum cable for branch circuits
Heating/Cooling System
- Appears to operate well throughout (good air flow on forced hot air systems)
- Flues: no open seams, slopes up to chimney connection
- No rust around cooling unit
- No combustion gas odor
- Air filter(s) clean
- Ductwork in good condition
- No asbestos on heating pipes, water pipes or air ducts
- Separate flues for gas/oil/propane and wood/coal