Are you looking to review and scale your home inspection services? One of the first things you are probably thinking about are what fields to have in your default form for all home inspectors. Use this checklist as a reference along with the seller’s disclosure statement when you build a home inspection form.
Grounds
- Proper drainage away from home
- No pooling, visible mold, or specific soggy areas due to drainage issues
- All downspouts direct water away from home
- Yard, landscaping, trees and/or any walkways are in maintained condition; free of debris and walkway cracks
- Branches aren’t hanging over the roof
- No termite damage or rotted wood, or other issue related to the exterior structure
- Deck, balcony, stair, and/or fence railings are secure and in good condition
- Driveways, sidewalks, patios, and/or entrance landings are cleaned and in good condition
Exterior Structure
- Gutters and downspouts are firmly attached
- Ridge and fascia boards are straight and level
- Housing side is straight
- Window and doorframes aren’t warped
- Visible part of foundation has no large cracks, shifts, or encroaching trees
Exterior Surface
- No dents, cracks, rot, flaking or bowing with siding
- Exterior paints aren’t faded and needing repainting
- Wood siding is at least 6 inches above the ground
- Windows and doors are free of any leaks
- Wood trim are free of cracks due to moisture
- No window leaks, broken glass or damaged screens
- Glass used is at least double paned
- Drip caps in place
- No decay or cracks around wood pieces and frames
Roof
- No rot or decay around fascia and soffits
- No decay, rust, sagging, bending, accumulated dirt, or unsealed joints within gutter system
- Exterior vents are clean
- No curling, mold, rot, decay, cupping, damaged, or missing shingles
- No patches, crack, splits, or silt deposits
- No cracks, warped shape, or poor condition to the mortar around chimney
Attic
- No stains around roof penetrations or on roofside’s underside
- Proper and sufficient insulation
- Proper ventilation
- No vents ending in attic
- Electric splices are in covered electric box made of plastic or metal
- No mildew, mold, or other decay
Crawl Space
- Insulated on exposed water supply and pipes
- Vents to exterior are properly connected
- No moisture or bug damage
- Insulation between crawl space and heated areas with vapor barrier closer to heated area
Heating & Air Conditioning
- Operates as expected with condenser and pan maintained
- Thermostat is working properly
- No rust around unit
- No gas or musty odor
- Clean filters
- Proper ductwork
- No asbestos on heating pipes or air ducts
- Separate flues for energy sources
- Flues slope to chimney connection properly with no open seams
Plumbing
- No unusual noises coming from pipes
- No pipe damage or leaks
- No rust, calcified deposits as part of water heater
- Water heater is the right size for number of bedrooms and vents properly
- Thermostat settings are between 118 to 125 degrees Farenheit for water heater
- No short cycles with water pump
Interior
- Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors installed where required as dictated by city ordinances
- Stair handrails secure and in good condition
- Garage door operates as expected including motion detection
- Treads are properly installed
- No stains, scratches, or significant cracks to walls and ceilings
- Flooring in proper condition with no visible scratches or other damage
- Windows and doors both close and open easily with no damage and containing weather stripping
- All electric outlets work with adequate amount of outlets in each room
- Each room heats and cools properly when HVAC is in use
- Walls appear to be properly insulated with no detected moisture or leaks
Kitchen
- Operating exhaust fan that vents to the outside of home
- Dishwasher operates as expected with no leaks or issues draining
- All other built-in appliances operate as expected
- No pipe leaks underneath kitchen sink with no stains or decay around sink cabinet floors
- No sink drainage issues
- Cabinet fronts close properly
- Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (“GFCI”) protection for any electrical outlets 6 feet or less from the sink
Bathrooms
- Operating exhaust fan that properly ventilates to the outside of the home
- Sink, shower, and/or tub drain properly
- Caulking in proper condition inside and around sink, tub, and shower areas
- No stains around wall surface and base of shower or tub
- No missing or insecure tiles
- Proper flow and water pressure with no pipe leaks
- No stains on the cabinet floor underneath bathroom sink.
- No rust around sink
- Toilets flush properly and are stable with no stains around its base
Electrical
- Lights, fans, and switches work as expected
- Outlets are grounded
- Right size service panel
- No open splices with cables secured and protected
- No overheating fuses or breakers
- All cables attached to panel with cable connectors
Once you have a default form for inspectors, you can use Pruvan’s mobile customizable forms. Our survey builder includes skip logic and conditional formatting so you can add or remove entries based on specific home amenities. And any issues home inspectors can show with geotagged photos attached to the form.
Our mobile forms, when completed by surveyors, can then be sent to any responsible parties like office staff to ensure forms are filled out properly. The ability to send these in real time via mobile phone gives your team on the field visibility.