What your home inspection should cover

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 Doors and Windows: Look for loose or tight fits, condition of locks, condition of weatherstripping 

 

Ceilings, walls, and moldings:  Look for loose pieces, drywall 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 

 

Look for age, conditions of flashing, pooling water, buckled shingles, or loose gutters and downspoutsRoof: