Home Evaluation Guide

We hope Home Owners and Home Sellers use this checklist in maintaining and evaluating their property. However, under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should this be relied upon as a home inspection or report.  If you require a home inspection, contact us or another qualified, educated, experienced ASHI home inspector in your area.

Use a checklist like this as a guide to make sure that you are looking at all parts of the house. Check off those items that are in good condition and make notes about those that are not. (This list describes an ideal house, but no house is perfect.)

Grounds
____ Proper rain drainage away from house
____ No evidence of standing water
____ No leaks from septic tank or leech field
____ Yard, landscaping, trees and paths in good condition
____ No branches or bushes touching house or roof
____ Exterior structures (fences, sheds, decks, retaining walls, detached garages) in good condition, no evidence of termite damage or rot
____ Railings on stairs and decks are adequate and secure
____ Driveways, sidewalks, patios, stoops in good condition, and sloping away from structure
____ Downspout drainage directed away from structure

Structure
____ Ridge and fascia lines appear straight and level
____ Sides of house appear straight, not bowed or sagging
____ Window and door frames appear square
____ Visible foundation in good condition - appears straight, plumb, with no significant cracks

Exterior Surfaces
____ Adequate clearance between ground and wood materials (6" minimum): no wood-to-earth contact
____ Shingles and siding: no cracking, curling or decay
____ Brick veneer: no cracks in joints, no broken or flaking bricks
____ Stucco: no large cracks (discuss all stucco cracks with a professional inspector)
____ Vinyl or steel siding: no dents from hail damage, no bowing or loose siding
____ No vines on surface of 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 or decay
____ Joints around frames are caulked
____ No broken glass or damaged screens, no broken seals on double-pane insulated glass
____ Glazing compound in good condition
____ Storm windows or thermal glass used
____ Drip cap installed

Roof
____ Composition shingles: no curling, no loss of granulation, no broken, damaged or missing shingles, no more than two layers of roofing
____ Wood shingles or shakes: no mold or decay, do damage, no curling
____ Flat roof: no obvious patches, no cracks or splits, minimal blisters and wrinkles, no silt deposits (which indicate improper drainage)
____ Flashing around roof penetrations
____ No evidence of excess roofing cement
____ Soffits and fascia: no decay, no stains
____ Exterior venting for area under roof (soffit vents and ridge vents are preferable), vents are clean
____ 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 cap in good condition.

Heating/Cooling System
____ Appears to operate well throughout -- good air flow
____ Flues: no open seams, slopes up to outside
____ No rust around cooling unit
____ No combustion gas odor
____ Air filter clean
____ Duct work in good condition
____ No asbestos on steam or water pipes, or air ducts
____ Separate flues for gas/oil/propane and wood/coal

Plumbing
____ Visible pipes: no damage, no evidence of leaks, no signs of stains on materials near pipes, drain pipes slope slightly down towards outlet
____ Water heater: no signs of rust, vented properly, seismically secured (attached to studs)
____ Water pump: does not short cycle
____ Galvanized pipes do not appear to restrict water flow
____ Drain clean out does not show signs of frequent use
____ Well water test is acceptable

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

Interior Rooms
____ Floors, walls and ceilings appear straight and plumb/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
____ 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 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 smoke, damper operates properly, flue has been cleaned, flue is lined

Kitchen
____ Working exhaust fan
____ GFCI protection for electrical outlets near sink
____ Dishwasher: drains properly, no leaks, baskets
____ No leaks in pipes under sinks
____ Floor in cabinet under sink solid, no stains or decay
____ Water flow in sink adequate
____ No excessive rust on garbage disposal
____ Built-in appliances operate properly
____ Cabinets in good condition: doors and drawers operate properly

Bathrooms
____ Working exhaust fan
____ Adequate flow and pressure in all fixtures
____ Sink, tub and shower drain properly
____ Plumbing and cabinet floor under sink in good condition
____ If sink is metal, it shows no signs of rust, overflow drain doesn't leak
____ Toilet operates properly
____ Toilet stable, no rocking, no stains around base
____ Caulking in good condition inside tub and shower area
____ Tub or shower tiles secure, wall surface solid
____ No stains around base of bath or shower

Attic
____ No stains on underside of roofing, especially around roof penetrations
____ No evidence of decay or damage to structure
____ Adequate insulation: ___inches of ____
____ Adequate venting, clear path into attic for air entering through soffit vents
____ No plumbing, exhaust or appliance vents terminating in attic
____ No open electrical splices

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 (or "band") joists (recommended in cold climates)

Crawl Space(s)
____ Adequately vented to outside
____ Insulation on exposed pipes and vents
____ Insulation between crawl space and heated areas, installed with vapor barrier towards heated area
____ No evidence of insect damage
____ No evidence of moisture damage

Miscellaneous
____ Smoke detectors where required
____ Stairway treads and risers solid
____ Stair rails where needed, and in good condition
____ Automatic garage door opener operates properly, stops properly for obstacles