Home Pre-Offer Inspection Checklist
Of all the things that I have been asked most, by would be buyers and realtors is how to evaluate the technical integrity of the home? Is there a list that they could use to evaluate a home before making an offer? While I hate to make it generic and so simple, yet often I have thought about the need for such as request, from a buyers stand point.
In the ideal world the buyer should really be able to inspect the home, before putting in an offer. However, in an imperfect world that we live in, it may be cost prohibitive to inspect every home that one would be interested in. Hence very reluctantly, I decided to create a list hoping that it would educate the buyer and hopefully they would be able to avoid a lemon and all hassles with would ensue post offer. Not to say lost time and home inspection fees.
Home # ______ Type ______________ Age ________
Address:_____________________________________
City / State____________________________________
Bedrooms ______ Bath Rooms ______ Garage ______
| COMPONENT | Look At | OK | May Be | Issues | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXTERIOR | ||||||
| Walkways trip hazards | ||||||
| Driveways slopes | ||||||
| Fences gates | ||||||
| Retaining Walls lean etc | ||||||
| Detached Structures | ||||||
| Lot Grade | ||||||
| Trees | ||||||
| Vegetation | ||||||
| Porches railings | ||||||
| Decks footings railings | ||||||
| Service entrance Cable | ||||||
| Utility Meters etc | ||||||
| Electrical Outlets | ||||||
| Hose Bibs | ||||||
| Pools Etc | ||||||
| Termite Infestation | ||||||
| Window wells | ||||||
| Barbecue Pits gas service | ||||||
| Add New Post | ||||||
| Fire- escapes | ||||||
| ROOF | ||||||
| Roof Cover | ||||||
| Flashing | ||||||
| Number of Layers | ||||||
| Chimneys | ||||||
| Gutters / downspouts | ||||||
| Trim / fascia | ||||||
| Pipes Apertures | ||||||
| Exhaust Fans etc | ||||||
| CLADDINGS | ||||||
| Exterior claddings | ||||||
| Shutters | ||||||
| Windows / Doors | ||||||
| Storms / Screens | ||||||
| Trim Weather striping | ||||||
| Door bell | ||||||
| GARAGE | ||||||
| Roof cover | ||||||
| Water Shedding | ||||||
| Garage doors | ||||||
| Foundation Settlement | ||||||
| Floor / Walls Cracks | ||||||
| Floor slope | ||||||
| Frame settlement | ||||||
| Interior Doors | ||||||
| Termite infestation | ||||||
| Fire walls / fire doors | ||||||
| Steps railings | ||||||
| FOUNDATION | ||||||
| Configuration | ||||||
| Water Penetration | ||||||
| Cracks | ||||||
| Settlement | ||||||
| Windows | ||||||
| Frame Structure | ||||||
| Sill Plates - Foundation bolts | ||||||
| Ventilation - Crawl Spaces | ||||||
| Insulation | ||||||
| Radon system | ||||||
| Sump Pump | ||||||
| Sewage System | ||||||
| Habitation - Egress | ||||||
| Make up air for Appliances | ||||||
| Oil tanks piping | ||||||
| INTERIOR | ||||||
| Walls Ceilings | ||||||
| Floors | ||||||
| Staircase railings | ||||||
| Closets | ||||||
| Countertops | ||||||
| Interior doors | ||||||
| Windows skylights | ||||||
| Trip hazards | ||||||
| KITCHEN | ||||||
| Appliances | ||||||
| Exhaust Fans | ||||||
| Sink faucet etc | ||||||
| Cabinets | ||||||
| Counter tops | ||||||
| BATH ROOMS | ||||||
| Fixtures Whirlpool etc | ||||||
| Exhaust Fans | ||||||
| Water Pressure Drainage | ||||||
| Leaks | ||||||
| Doors Windows | ||||||
| Floor / Tiles | ||||||
| ELECTRICAL | ||||||
| Main panel Amperage Voltage | ||||||
| Receptacles | ||||||
| Switches | ||||||
| GFCI | ||||||
| Fans | ||||||
| Appliances Fixtures - Lights | ||||||
| PLUMBING | ||||||
| Type of Supply | ||||||
| Water Meter Valves | ||||||
| Pipe type Size | ||||||
| Water Pressure | ||||||
| Disposal type | ||||||
| Drainage Flow | ||||||
| Water heater | ||||||
| Gas meter | ||||||
| HVAC | ||||||
| Heat Appliance type | ||||||
| Fuel type | ||||||
| Flue pipe | ||||||
| Fuel Pipe | ||||||
| Thermostat | ||||||
| Delivery system | ||||||
| Adequacy | ||||||
| Emergency Switch | ||||||
| Filters | ||||||
| INSULATION | ||||||
| Type & Adequacy | ||||||
| Ventilation | ||||||
| Attic moisture condensation | ||||||
| Attic fans | ||||||
| Storage | ||||||
| Framing Structure | ||||||
| FIRE PLACES | ||||||
| Type | ||||||
| Chimney Flue | ||||||
| Enclosures | ||||||
| Fuel Type | ||||||
| Interiors cracks | ||||||
| Damper Lintel | ||||||
| Ash Pit | ||||||
| Wood Stoves | ||||||
| AUXILIARIES | ||||||
| Smoke CO detectors | ||||||
| Built in vacuum | ||||||
| Laundry appliances | ||||||
| GENERAL | ||||||
| Age of all components | ||||||
| Permits | ||||||
| Maintenance records | ||||||
| Utility records | ||||||
| Miscellaneous | ||||||