This inspection checklist can be used to give you an idea of what’s important to inspect with your home.
Exterior of the house
- Wall coverings, flashing, and trim
- Exterior doors
- Attached and adjacent decks, balconies, stoops, steps, porches, and their associated railings
- Eaves, soffits, and fascias
- Grading, surface drainage, and retaining walls
- Entry walkways, patios, and driveways
Roof of the house
- Roofing materials
- Roof drainage systems
- Flashing
- Skylights, chimneys, and roof penetrations
Structural components of the house
- Inspection structural components including the foundation and framing
- Type of foundation
- Condition of the foundation
- Potential water entry into the foundation
- The floor structure
- The wall structure
- The ceiling structure
- The roof structure
The house’s doors, interior, and windows
- Walls, ceilings, and floors
- Steps, stairways, and railings
- Countertops and a representative number if installed cabinets
- A representative number of doors and windows
- Garage doors and garage door openers
- Installed ovens, ranges, surface cooking appliances, microwave ovens, dishwashers, and food waste disposals
HVAC
- Inspect installed heating equipment
- Vent systems, flues, and chimneys
- Distribution systems
- Inspect central and permanently installed cooling equipment
Electrical in the house
- Service drop and meter socket enclosures
- Service disconnect and amperage rating if labeled
- Electrical bonding and grounding
- A representative number of switches, light fixtures, electrical receptacles, etc.
- Test all GFCI and GFI circuit breakers and receptacles
- Service entrance cables, conductors, and insulation
- Circuit breaker panel openings
- Presence of smoke detectors
- Any electrical integrity deficiencies that may need addressed
Plumbing
- Interior water supply and distribution systems, including fixtures and faucets
- Interior drain, waste, and vent systems including fixtures
- Water heating equipment and hot water supply systems
- Vent systems, flues, and chimneys
- Sewage ejectors, sump pumps, and related plumbing
Attic and insulation
- Attic framing and condition
- Insulation in unfinished areas
- Kitchen, bathroom, laundry, and similar exhaust systems
- Ventilation of attics