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.
Before you hire a professional to examine the house, do your own inspection. The following checklist will help you determine any potential and/or existing problems with the house.
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.
1. Are there asbestos ceilings?
2. Are the pipes asbestos-wrapped?
3. Are there leaded copper pipe joints?
4. Are smoke alarms working?
5. Is there proper insulation?
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 on wood under the house indicating heavy moisture?
4. Does the ground outside slope away from the house?
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 poured.)
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.
Wood Shake Roofs
1. Are there pieces of the roof lying on the ground around the house?
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?
2. Are the edges of the shingles curling up?
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?
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?
1. Are any tiles broken?
2. Are any of the tiles missing?
3. Are there any signs of leakage in the ceilings or walls?
Interior
1. Are there marks or stains on the walls?
2. Is the current paint in good condition?
3. What type of paint has been used? (easy to clean?)
Exterior
1. Is the paint chipping or peeling?
2. Are the colors faded?
3. Is the caulking around windows starting to fall out?
4. Is the aluminum siding firmly attached?
5. Are the gutters falling?
6. Is any of the paint peeling?
1. Is the plumbing copper instead of galvanized
steel?
2. Are there leaks at the joints of galvanized pipes?
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.)
1. Do switches or sockets spark when used?
2. Are there inoperative lights or switches?
3. Are any of the outlets hot to the touch?
4. Is any of the wiring exposed?
1. Do you smell gas around the furnace?
(A very bad sign, call the gas company immediately.)
2. If there is radiant heat or heating that requires plumbing, are there
any leaks?
1. Are there any cracks in the firebricks
inside the fireplace?
2. 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.)
3. Are there any visible cracks in the external bricks?
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