CARL WATTS & ASSOCIATES
May 10, 2010
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Whether you hire a specialist or prefer to do it yourself, here is a quick home inspection checklist: |
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Exterior (landscaping, grading, elevation, drainage, fences, sidewalks, fascia, trims, doors, windows, wall covering)
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Lot area (next to the foundation, walks and driveways)
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Structural elements (masonry, coverings, ceramics)
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Roof and attic (type of roof, ventilation, flashing and gutters)
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Porch and deck (paint, wood)
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Walls and ceilings
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Bathrooms & kitchens (fixtures, tiles, faucets, cabinets)
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Plumbing (pipe materials and condition)
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Systems and components (water heaters, furnaces, air conditioning, duck work, chimney, fireplace, sprinklers)
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Electrical (main panel, types of wiring, grounding, fans, light fixtures)
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Appliances (dishwasher, oven, garbage disposal, smoke detectors
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Garage (slab, walls, ceiling, entry, garage door, lights)
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| The most serious problems to look for are: |
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| - | Any kind of health and safety issues |
| - | Short life-expectancy roofs |
| - | HVAC malfunctions |
| - | Foundation, moisture/drainage issues |
| At the exterior begin inspection at the top and then work your way down to the lot. |
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| For the interior begin inspection the other way, from the basement; open every door and keep going the same direction so you don’t miss any spot. |
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Washington DC
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tel/fax 202 350-9002 |
| It looks like a beautiful home, in a good neighborhood, the price is right and you even have the downpayment for it :-) But do you know exactly what you are buying? |
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As a homebuyer (even more so as a first-time homebuyer) you may have no idea about home construction, its components and home inspections, you should know though that no home can be flawless, not even a new one!
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| I would be a wise investment to hire a professional home inspector. |
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An experienced home inspector will provide a written report with details on the major elements of the home. |
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The inspector should be able to answer your questions, show you how to operate various systems in the home and offer maintenance suggestions. .
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Knowing about the deficiencies and the condition of your future home will help you plan ahead on addressing them.
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A second, different kind of specialist would be required to identify pests or toxic elements (asbestos, lead, radiation).
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Home Inspection
