HTML Preview New Home Inspection Checklist page number 1.
First-Look Home Inspection Checklist
Here’s what to look for in your initial house visit, and why it’s important to take a special
look at these items. Jot down your findings on the little form that follows.
p Examine the roof. If the roofline is sagging, be prepared for foundation problems. Ask how
old the roof is. A roof ten years old or older will probably need replacing soon, a $10,000-plus
job. Loose, curling, or missing tiles or shingles also indicate a new roof is needed, as do shafts
of light in the attic. Complex roofs with lots of gables, intersecting surfaces, and multiple roof-
ing materials are difficult to maintain and expensive to replace.
p Listen for squeaks when you walk. Squeaks are caused by loose nails, often loosened by sag-
ging or movement in the structure, which may mean settling problems.
p Take cues from your feet. ey’ll tell you whether the flooring feels unstable, or the house
has started to settle unevenly. As you walk up stairs, make sure the heights feel uniform.
And step close to the toilet and tub. If the floor feels soft, leakage may be occurring, possibly
caused by the owner’s failure to change the seals on the toilet or caulk the wall tiles.
p Use your nose. At worst, fusty odors or your sudden sniffling may mean a mold problem.
Other odors, such as cat urine or cigarette smoke, are also a bother to get rid of and reduce
the value of the house. (Or maybe you’ll just smell a lot of air freshener, which should make
you wonder what’s being covered up.)
p Turn on the faucets. What does the water look like? If you see rust particles or discoloration,
the pipes may be rusted, and need replacement. What do you hear? Knocking sounds may
mean old, leak-prone pipes. Try turning the faucet to its maximum. If the underlying problem
turns out to be low water pressure, this is tough to solve—but should be fixed if you plan on
enjoying your showers. Also make sure the hot water arrives within a reasonable length of time.
p Open windows and doors. If you can’t do so easily, that too may be a repair issue.
p Look for signs of water damage. Look for stains or puddles on the ceiling, around the
window frames, by the water heater, under the sink, and all over the floor of the basement, if
there is one. Not only are these repairs costly, but because of scares over toxic mold, they can
make a house expensive to insure.
p Find the electrical panel. Is it an old style one, small, and with fuses rather than circuit break-
ers? at’s a several-thousand-dollar upgrade. If you suspect old wiring, look at the plugs near
the bathroom and kitchen sinks. If they’ve been modernized at all, you’ll see special plugs
with little rectangular “TEST” and “RESET” buttons (these help protect you from water-related
electrocution).
p Take note of peeling paint. A paint job is an easy, cosmetic repair—but nevertheless can
mean your paying someone several thousand dollars. And peeling paint can be especially
problematic if it’s old and lead-based or contains asbestos texturing material.