How to Do Your Own Home Inspection

Performing a home inspection is one of the most important things you can do to ensure that a home you are considering purchasing is in good repair. Hidden defects can cost you thousands of dollars if you happen to buy a home without completing a thorough inspection. If you will be conducting the inspection yourself, you will want to focus your home inspection on the areas most likely to be in need of repair in a house.

Things You'll Need

• Flashlight
• Clipboard
• Checklist

Instructions

Exterior Inspection

1. Take a look at the roof and gutters before you enter the house. The peak of the roof should be level and no parts of the roof should sag. Shingles should be flat with no broken edges or holes. Gutters should be firmly attached to the house and downspouts should direct rain away from the foundation.

2. Inspect the exterior of the chimney, which should be straight throughout its entire length. Look for missing bricks and loose mortar.

3. Look at the house's siding. It should be in good repair, with no missing or discolored sections. Walls should be straight, with no bowing or bulging. If the exterior is brick or stone, look for missing or loose bricks or stones.

4. Examine the house's foundation. Look for cracks, damage, flaking or shifting sections of the foundation. A white, chalky substance on concrete can indicate leaks. Make sure that the mortar between cement blocks is in good condition.

5. Open the front door and carefully inspect it and other exterior doors. If made of wood, doors should be in good condition with no rotting. Check the bottom of the door for weatherstripping. Make sure that the doors are correctly aligned and can close and lock easily.

Interior Inspection

1. Try out the windows. Move them up and down and test the locks. Check that the caulking around the windows is in good repair.

2. Look at the floors, paying particular attention to sloping, cracks in tiles and old, worn carpeting. Some sloping floors can be due to normal settling, but sloping can also indicate a serious problem with the home's foundation.

3. Turn your eyes to the ceiling and look for stains that could indicate water damage. Look for evidence of repairs, such as bulging areas or areas that aren't quite flat and ask for details about the problem. If the walls or ceilings are plastered, make sure that the plaster is smooth and is not loose in any area.

4. Visit the kitchen and make sure that all appliances are in working order. Note the age of the appliances. Look at the counter tops and cabinets. Are they new and up-to-date or will they need to be replaced soon? Use a flashlight and check under the sink for wet areas or rotted wood that could signal leaking pipes.

5. Flush the toilet in the bathroom and run the shower. Make sure each functions normally. Turn on and off the faucets and look for dripping. Make sure that sinks, cabinets and toilets are firmly attached to the wall or floor.

6. Check out the heating, air-conditioning and electrical systems. Find out when the systems have last been upgraded and serviced. Make sure that the electrical system is sufficient for the size of the house. Check that electrical wires are in good condition and that grounded outlets are available in the laundry room, kitchen and bathrooms.

Tips & Warnings

• Print out a home inspection checklist and take it with you when examining homes. The Inspect America, Ask the Builder and Online Organizing websites all offer checklists (see Resources). Don't forget to inspect decks and porches. Look for rotted wood and cracked cement or masonry. The porch or deck should be securely attached to the house and any stairs should be in good repair.

• Crumbling wood in the joists in the basement could be a sign of termite damage. If you suspect termite damage, ask the sellers to supply you with an inspection report from a termite company. Termite damage repair should be listed as one of the conditions of sale.

Resources

• Inspect America
• Ask the Builder
• Online Organizing