Home Inspection Checklist

Using a Home Inspection List

When buying a house, a house inspection list can be extremely helpful in determining the property’s general condition. A house Inspection list can also help you estimate the future repair costs of the home, which can help you determine whether the house is good for you. Use this house inspection list to figure out if the house you are looking at is right for you.

Home Inspection List: Roof

• Sagging ridges

• Sagging between the rafters or trusses

• Asphalt shingle deterioration (curling, broken edges, warping, slits, rounded corners)

• Loose flashing

• Rotten or delaminate wooden under last shingle row

• Visible roof vents

House Inspection List: Chimney

• Cracked or broken masonry cap

• Flaking or missing bricks/mortar

• Leaning chimney

Home Inspection List: Soffits & Fascia


• Material of the soffit and fascia (plastic, aluminum, or wood)

• Missing/loose sections

• Paint problems or visible rot (if wooden)


House Inspection List: Gutters and Downspouts

• Peeling paint or rust

• Loose or sagging sections or leaks

Home Inspection List: Wall Coverings

• Missing mortar

• Flaking or cracking bricks

• Loose, rotten, or missing siding, or deteriorated paint

• Siding shows the foundation or is old

• Exterior walls bulged, bowed, or leaning

House Inspection List: Doors and Windows

• Issues with paint or caulking, or rotted wood parts

• Old or windows

Home Inspection List: Decks and Porches

• Flaking or cracking masonry

• Rotten wood, paint problems, or wood-earth contact.

• Separation or settlement from the house.

• Underside should be inspected if possible

House Inspection List: Foundation

• Flaking, cracks, or damaged masonry

• Water markings and efflorescence (chalky white substance)

• Soft mortar

• Bulging, bowing, or other irregularities

Home Inspection List: Lot

• Grade slope away

• Any low or settled areas near the foundation

• Cracked sidewalk or driveway

• Property lower than neighboring properties or street

House Inspection List: Basement

• Stains, efflorescence, mildew/odors, loose tiles or other water penetration

Home Inspection List: Floors

• Cracked ceramics

• Deteriorated coverings

• Water staining or damage

• Sagging/sloping

House Inspection List: Walls

• Nonworking doors/windows

• Crooked walls

• Loose or cracked plaster

• Physical damage, stains, previous repair evidence.

• Visible drywall nails or seams

Home Inspection List: Ceilings

• Plaster cracks or sagging/loose plaster

• Stains or evidence of previous repair.

• Visible Seams or nails

House Inspection List: Kitchen and Bathroom

• Unsecure fixtures

• Fixture cracks

• Poor condition of tiles and caulking shower area

• Broken/leaking faucets

• Faucets with low water pressure

• Rot or staining under counter-tops

• Broken cabinets or drawers

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