Pre-listing Home Inspection Checklist

Pre-Listing Inspection

Home Inspection Checklist

Things to look out for before you list your property…

INTRODUCTION

Prior to putting your home on the market it is recommended that you have your home pre-inspected to avoid any potential problems or delays in the sale of your home and to also save you time and money. The last thing you need when selling your home is to have negotiated a sale price with a buyer only to have an unexpected home inspection item that needs to be addressed prior to closing and costing you more out of pocket money.

Today’s home buyer’s will seek the services of a licensed home inspector to go through the home to insure that they know the quality of the home they are buying and to have those items that need repair taken care of prior to closing.

Having a Pre-Listing Home Inspection performed will help solidify your contract and the buyers’ home inspector will confirm that they are buying a good, sound home.

The checklist below can help get you started with your own evaluation of your home and prepare you for the pre-inspection. It is important to note that this is not a home inspection and should not be considered as an official home inspection but merely to be used as a reference sheet.

Contact us or your agent to get a list of licensed home inspectors that will inspector your home and give you a full report.

REMEMBER TO ALWAYS USE A LICENSED INSPECTOR…

OUTSIDE YARD

 Proper grading drainage away from the house

 No evidence of standing water

 No leaks from the septic system (if applicable)

 Yard, landscaping, trees, and walkways in good condition

 No branches or bushes touching house or overhanging the roof

 Exterior structures such as fences, decks, sheds, garages, etc. are in good condition and no evidence of pest infestation, fungus or rot

 Railings on stairs and decks are adequate, secure and meet building codes

 Driveways, sidewalks, patios, entrance landings in good condition, and pitched away from home

 Downspout drainage directed away from home

STRUCTURE

 Ridge and fascia board lines appear straight and level

 Sides of the house appear straight, not bowed or sagging

 Window and door frames appear square (especially bowed windows)

 Visible foundation in good condition – appears straight, plumb, with no significant cracks

EXTERIOR SURFACES

 Adequate clearance between ground and wood siding materials (6″ minimum); no wood-to-earth contact

 Siding: no cracking, curling, loose, rot or decay

 Masonry veneers: no cracks in joints, no broken or flaking components

 Stucco: no large cracks (discuss all stucco cracks with a professional inspector)

 Vinyl or aluminum siding: no dents, damage, no bowing or lose siding

 No vines on the surface of the structure

 Exterior paint or stain: no flaking or blisters

 No stains on exterior surfaces

WINDOWS, DOORS AND WOOD TRIM

 Wood frames and trim pieces are secure, no cracks, rot or decay

 Joints around frames are caulked

 No broken glass (window or storm panes) or damaged screens, no broken double- paned, insulated window seals.

 Storm windows or thermal glass used

 Drip caps installed over windows

ROOF

 Composition shingles: no curling, no cupping, no loss of granulation particulate, no broken, damaged or missing shingles, no more than two layers of roofing

 Wood shingles or shakes: no mold, rot or decay, no cracked/broken/missing shingles, no curling

 Flat roofs: no obvious patches, no cracks or splits, minimal blisters/”alligatoring” and wrinkles, no silt deposits (indicates improper drainage), sealed tar at flashings

 Flashing around roof penetrations

 No evidence of excess roofing cement/tar/caulk

 Soffits and fascia: no decay, no stains

 Exterior venting for eave areas: vents are clean and not painted over

 Gutters: no decay or rust, joints sealed, attached securely to structure, no bending or sagging, no sections of gutter or downspout missing, gutters clean, no mud deposits

 Chimneys: straight, properly flashed, no evidence of damaged bricks or cracked joints, mortar/cement cap in good condition

ATTIC

 No stains on the underside of roofing, especially around roof penetrations

 No evidence of decay or damage to the structure

 Sufficient insulation and properly installed insulation (moisture barrier installed closest to the heated area of the house)

 Adequate ventilation, clear path into the attic for air entering through soffit vents, adequately sized gable end louvers, all mechanical ventilation operational

 No plumbing, exhaust or appliance vents terminating in the attic

 No open electrical splices

INTERIOR ROOMS

 Floors, walls and ceilings appear straight and plumb and level
 No stains on floors, walls or ceilings
 Flooring materials in good condition
 No significant cracks in walls or ceilings
 Windows and exterior doors operate easily and latch properly, no broken glass, no sashes painted shut, no decay; windows and doors have weather-stripping, “weep holes” installed
 Interior doors operate easily and latch properly, no damage or decay, no broken hardware
 Paint, wall covering, and paneling in good condition
 Wood trim installed well and in good condition
 Lights and switches operate properly
 Adequate number of three pronged electrical outlets in each room
 Electrical outlets test properly (spot check)
 Heating/cooling source in each habitable room
 Evidence of adequate insulation in walls
 Fireplace: no cracking or damaged masonry, no evidence of back-drafting (staining on fireplace façade), damper operates properly, flue has been cleaned, flue is lined

KITCHEN

 Working exhaust fan that is vented to the exterior of the building
 Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (“GFCI”) protection for electrical outlets within 6 feet of the sink(s)
 Dishwasher: drains properly, no leaks, baskets, door spring operates properly
 No leaks in pipes under sinks
 Floor in cabinet under sink solid, no stains or decay
 Water flow in sink adequate
 No excessive rust or deterioration on garbage disposal or waste pipes
 Built- in appliances operate properly
 Cabinets in good condition: doors and drawers operate properly

BATHROOMS

 Working exhaust fan that doesn't terminate in the attic space
 Adequate flow and pressure at all fixtures
 Sink, tub and shower drain properly
 Plumbing and cabinet floor under sink in good condition
 If sink is metal, check for rust and drainage
 Toilet operates properly
 Toilet stable, no rocking, no stains around base
 Caulking in good condition inside and outside of the tub and shower area
 Tub or shower tiles secure, wall surface solid
 No stains or evidence of past leaking around base of bath or shower

MISCELLANEOUS

 Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors where required by local ordinances
 Stairway treads and risers solid
 Stair handrails where needed and in good condition
 Automatic garage door opener operates properly, stops properly for obstacles
 Basement or Mechanical Room
 No evidence of moisture
 Exposed foundation; no stains no major cracks, no flaking, no efflorescence
 Visible structural wood: no sagging, no damage, no decay, no stains, no damage from insects, sills attached to foundation with anchor bolts
 Insulation at rim/band joists

CRAWL SPACE

 Adequately vented to exterior
 Insulation on exposed water supply, waste and vent pipes
 Insulation between crawl space and heated areas, installed with vapor barrier towards heated area
 No evidence of insect damage
 No evidence of moisture damage
 Check under home for any signs of mold or mildew

PLUMBING

 Visible pipes: no damage, no evidence of leaks, no signs of stains on materials near pipes; drain pipes slope slightly down towards outlet to septic/sewage system
 Water heater: no signs of rust, vented properly, sized to produce adequate quantities of hot water for the number of bedrooms in the house.
 Water pump: does not short cycle
 Galvanized pipes do not restrict water flow
 Well water test is acceptable
 Hot water temperature between 118 – 125 degrees Fahrenheit

ELECTRICAL

 Visible wiring: in good condition, no “knob-and-tube” wiring, no exposed splices, cables secured and protected
 Service panel: adequate capacity, all cables attached to panel with cable connectors; fuses or breakers are not overheating
 No aluminum cable for branch circuits

HEATING COOLING SYSTEM

 Appears to operate well throughout (good air flow on forced hot air systems)
 Flues: no open seams, slopes up to chimney connection
 No rust around cooling unit
 No combustion gas odor
 Air filter(s) clean
 Ductwork in good condition
 No asbestos on heating pipes, water pipes or air ducts
 Separate flues for gas/oil/propane and wood/coal

Source: Audrey and Frank Serio, CRS, Keller Williams Realty, accessed from http://www.theserios.com/Pre-Listing-Home-Inspection-Check list

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