Grounds
____ Proper grading drainage away from house
____ No evidence of standing water
____ No leaks from septic tank or leech field
____ Yard, landscaping, trees and walkways in good condition
____ No branches or bushes touching house or overhanging the roof
____ Exterior structures (fences, sheds, decks, retaining walls, detached garages) in
good condition, no evidence of termite damage or rotted wood
____ Railings on stairs and decks are adequate and secure
____ Driveways, sidewalks, patios, entrance landings in good condition, and pitched
away from structure
____ Downspout drainage directed away from structure
Structure
____ Ridge and fascia board lines appear straight and level
____ Sides of house appear straight, not bowed or sagging
____ Window and doorframes 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, spalling 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 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, rot or decay
____ Joints around frames are caulked
____ No broken glass (window or storm panes) or damaged screens, no broken doublepaned, insulated window seals.
____ Muntin and mullion glazing compound in good condition
____ 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 underside of roofing, especially around roof penetrations
____ No evidence of decay or damage to structure
____ Sufficient insulation and properly installed insulation (moisture barrier installed
closest to the heated area of the house)
____ Adequate ventilation, clear path into attic for air entering through soffit vents,
adequately sized gable end louvers, all mechanical ventilation operational
____ No plumbing, exhaust or appliance vents terminating in 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, 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 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
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