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What
Your Home Inspection Should Cover
Siding:
Look for dents or buckling
Foundations: Look for cracks or water seepage
Exterior Brick: Look for cracked bricks or mortar pulling
away from bricks
Insulation: Look for condition, adequate rating for
climate (the higher the R value, the more effective the
insulation is)
Doors and Windows: Look for loose or tight fits, condition
of locks, condition of weatherstripping
Roof: Look for age, conditions of flashing, pooling water,
buckled shingles, or loose gutters and downspouts
Ceilings, walls, and moldings: Look for loose pieces, dry
wall that is pulling away.
Porch/Deck: Loose railings or step, rot
Electrical: Look for condition of fuse box/circuit
breakers, number of outlets in each room
Plumbing: Look for poor water pressure, banging pipes,
rust spots or corrosion that indicate leaks, sufficient
insulation
Water Heater: Look for age, size adequate for house, speed
of recovery, energy rating.
Furnace/Air Conditioning: Look for age, energy rating.
Furnaces are rated by annual fuel utilization efficiency;
the higher the rating, the lower your fuel costs. However,
other factors such as payback period and other operating
costs, such as electricity to operate motors.
Garage: Look for exterior in good repair; condition of
floor—cracks, stains, etc.; condition of door mechanism.
Basement: Look for water leakage, musty smell.
Attic: Look for adequate ventilation, water leaks from
roof.
Septic Tanks (if applicable): Adequate absorption field
capacity for the percolation rate in your area and the
size of your family.
Driveways/Sidewalks: Look for cracks, heaving pavement,
crumbling near edges, stains. |
