Home Inspection Checklist

If you are thinking of buying or selling a home, conducting a home inspection is a recommended practice.

A home inspection is a comprehensive walk-through of the home in order to deeply evaluate the condition of the property.

This helps to identify any significant problems prior to the transfer of ownership of the home. However, before you employ the services of a professional home inspector, you can do your own preliminary inspection of your home with the help of a home inspection checklist.

This way, you can spot any potential problems that you can direct your home inspector toward later for a more professional evaluation.

Preparing a Home Inspection Checklist

A good home inspection checklist will help guide your perspective as you walk through your property and look for potential problems.

You should include a list of all the items inside and outside your house, and as you walk around, check each item and make some notes. Here are a few of the most key areas to check:

• exterior
• basement or crawlspace
• furnace
• air conditioning
• plumbing system
• electrical system
• kitchen
• windows
• doors
• fireplace
• roof
• attic

Organize your checklist by category of the different areas of your home. Start at the outside and make your way inside.

All the items included in your list should be checked if they are in very good, fair or poor condition. Take note if you notice something odd or if you smell something funny, or if a gutter is coming loose on the side of the house.

No matter how small or how big the flaw, it is highly useful to take note before the professional inspector enters the scene to do further analysis together with you.

When you plan to buy your dream house, you can tend to overlook some details of the home because you are too overjoyed to have it, only to realize later that the property you bought is not your dream home at all.

So you really have to be patient and wise, and start by having a home inspection done before you close any deal.

First Time Home Buyers Inspection

Are you in the market for a new home? After months of searching, you have finally found your dream home. It may not be a brand new house, however, it has everything that you have always wanted in a home. But it should not be a simple matter to just pay for it and then move in. You must consider the home inspection checklist which a qualified inspector will go through.

The home inspection is very important. Your upfront diligence will benefit you greatly down the road, as you will certainly want to feel safe and sound in your new dream home.

Dave Woodward is a licensed home inspector with great knowledge of the fundamental principles in all the disciplines of home inspection. Dave can evaluate a home’s engineering, architectural, electrical, carpenter, and many more components. Apart from all the certifications, he is beyond qualified to offer home inspection services.

Here are some factors that influence the value of the house and whether it would be the right decision to purchase the house.

Discolored Ceilings & Walls

If at the time of home inspection it is found that walls or ceilings are discolored, then it is most likely that there is a mold problem or water damage. The cause of water damage can be broken pipes, window flashing that is not correctly installed, or even a leaking roof.

Mold problems can arise in places with high moisture levels. Such exposure is known to result in different health problems. It can also cause major structural house damages.

Damage to Wood

If the house has hardwood flooring, then check if there are lines that look like trails. If you find such lines, then it can indicate a termite issue in the house.

If the basement has wooden beams, then it is essential to check them to see if they are damaged. Such damage could indicate a serious insect problem in the home.

Damp Basement

If the house you are purchasing has a basement, then the home inspection will reveal whether excessive moisture is present in the basement.

Such moisture can result in water seepage or flooding of the basement during rainstorms. A damp basement can subsequently lead to mold growth.

Drafty Windows

When the home inspection is carried out, check whether air passes through the closed windows into the house. Repairing such windows can be very expensive and depends on the kind of windows which will have to be repaired.

Radon Testing

Radon testing is also part of home inspection. A home inspector can find radon gas getting into the house from the ground. This gas is known to be one of the causes of lung cancer so it is vital to ensure that this is not an issue with your home.

Electrical Inspection

As part of the home inspection, all the power connections will be checked to ensure they are in working condition. Your inspector will also verify that all electrical wiring is in alignment with government regulations and there is no short circuit risk in the house.

Plumbing

You should check on the piping materials used by the builder to see if there are modifications to be made. A sewage inspection is also included in the home inspection checklist.

Pests

Pests are major health hazards. Most building inspectors will conduct a pest inspection, and should they find any, they can recommend the appropriate pest control service to address the issue.

Fire safety inspection

A building inspector will check if there are any violations with the fire safety code of the city. While this is often the responsibility of the fire department, most home inspectors will include this in their checklist. They would recommend the placement of fire extinguishers where these are necessary and other fire precaution equipment and standards.

The above list contains the basic home inspection checklist. Since buying a home is very important to you and your family, you must make sure that you are getting a qualified building inspector to help you decide if the house is a good buy or if it is time to start looking again.

Home Inspector Checklist Aside

Are you looking for a reliable home Inspector? Dave Woodward adheres strictly to all of the guidelines you would desire in a home inspection checklist. Click here to get in touch.