Home inspections are an essential part of the home-buying process. They allow both buyers and sellers to have a better understanding of what they’re getting into before they buy or sell a home. But there’s a lot more to inspecting a home than just looking at the walls and ceilings. There are dozens of items that need to be inspected when you do a home inspection, and following our checklist will help make sure nothing is missed.
Testing and Tagging Appliances
It’s important to do an electrical test and tag in your home to make sure your appliances are working properly before you move in. Test the stove, dishwasher, oven, and microwave by turning on each appliance. Check that the temperature is consistent from one side of the appliance to another by placing a thermometer on each burner or heating element.
Test the refrigerator and freezer by shutting them off and filling them with water; check both areas within 24 hours after cooling down again for any condensation on walls, ceilings, or floors inside cabinets (this could indicate an issue with insulation). Also, look for food spills inside cabinets or drawers if there’s any mold growing anywhere, it’s not safe to eat anything stored there.
Test the washer and dryer by running through cycles as they would normally run once you have moved into your new home: wash some clothes (using hot water settings if available) and dry them using different drying cycles until completely dry (again using hot temperatures if possible). Check that clothes come out clean from both machines without any stains left behind; do this test with several different fabrics just in case some items lost color during washing/drying processes due to pre-existing damage caused by movers’ packing practices rather than manufacturer defects).
The Roof’s Condition
Check the roof for signs of damage. The inspector will check the entire roof, checking for signs of leakage, shingle damage, and wear and tear. Check the attic for signs of water damage. Any leaking that has occurred can cause significant amounts of water to seep into an attic over time, which can lead to mold growth if left unchecked. If there is any evidence of this occurring (and it is not just a result of a recent storm), it’s important that you address it as soon as possible before mold takes hold.
The walls, Ceilings, and Floors
Look for cracks or holes in the walls, ceilings, and floors. This can be a sign of moisture damage and signs of water damage (paint peeling, bubbling, and/or fading) on the walls, ceilings, and floors. Moisture can cause mold to grow indoors if left untreated so this is something that needs to be addressed right away.
Inspect any light fixtures or electrical outlets you see in these areas as well; they may have corrosion around them which could mean there have been some electrical issues present before. If this is the case then it could affect other parts of your home so contact an electrician immediately. Don’t wait until after your inspection has concluded because doing so could result in an incomplete report being submitted back to you which wouldn’t reflect all potential issues with your new home purchase.
The Plumbing
Check for leaks in the toilet and faucets. This can be done by flushing a few times and watching for drips on the floor. Then look under the sink to see if you can locate any leaks, as well as check the water lines in your home. Check for leaks in pipes, such as those that run from water meters to washing machines, dishwashers, and toilets; or from gas meters to stoves and ovens.
Look at your hot water heater to ensure it’s not damaged or leaking. If it is leaky (indicated by rust stains), then get an estimate from a plumber before buying it, you may need to replace it entirely instead of just repairing whatever’s wrong with it and make sure there are no other problems like this one that could cost you a lot more money down the road.
Finally, check out all appliances’ drains by filling them with water and then draining them quickly by turning off their hoses/pumps/etc.; when finished doing so make sure nothing appears clogged up inside any kind of drain line (even though this is unlikely).
A/C and Heating Systems
Air conditioning and heating systems are an essential part of a home. The inspector should check these systems to ensure they are properly installed and maintained, in working order, and properly insulated. This will help you determine if the system is working efficiently or if it needs repairs or replacement.
Air conditioning and heating systems can be inspected by checking for:
- Leaks on the outside of the house (for example, around windows)
- Proper operation
- Maintenance records for all equipment if any are present at all. If there are no maintenance records available from previous owners/owners’ associations/renters, this could indicate that regular inspections were not being done; therefore maintenance may have been neglected. Note that even if regular inspections were done in the past but are no longer performed during your ownership period (say because you bought a foreclosure), finding out when those inspections were last done can still be helpful information since it indicates whether or not there has been some sort of neglect over time despite efforts toward proper upkeep in other areas within those same spaces (such as kitchens).
Windows and Doors
The first thing to do is look for cracks, rot, and leaks. This is also a good time to check if the windows and doors are operating properly and if they open and close easily. If there are locks on the windows and doors, make sure they’re in good working order and that they can be locked properly from the outside.
Another thing to consider is security. You want all your new home’s entry points secure from intruders so it’s best to purchase a few spare keys (or better yet, get an electronic lock) before moving into your new home.
Conclusion
If you’re thinking about buying a home, it can be a great idea to have it inspected before you buy. A home inspection will help you see what kind of condition the house is in and if anything needs to be fixed before purchase. You might even find out that there are issues with plumbing or electricity that could potentially cost thousands of dollars.
