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- The Secret About Prescriptive Easement: Top Guide 1 Must Know - December 4, 2023
- About Home Equity Loans In Texas And How Can One Obtain It - November 27, 2023
About Property Inspection Checklist
Although architectural particulars, wall and floor coverings, modern amenities, and many other factors are important in the buying decision, the focus of this property inspection checklist is on the structural/mechanical/electrical state of the property.
The property inspection checklist is designed to give the real estate agent or approaching purchaser a system to detect some of the readily accessible major errors or deficiencies in the significant components and systems of a home.
It is not designed to, nor does it profess to, smoothen the progress of detection of all flaws, problems, or occurrences that might exist in any given property.
To take full advantage of time and to make sure all of the key sections of the property area unit are taken into thought, Eagle Property Inspections has succeeded in developing a systematic approach to the review.
This can be a simplified summary of systems that we have a tendency to, as skilled property inspectors, use after we area unit inspecting a home.
This is a basic overview of systems that we, as professional property inspectors, use when we are inspecting a home.
To help you out in following the system, we have provided a checklist that will direct you through your own inspection.
THE PROPERTY INSPECTION CHECKLIST SYSTEM
THE BIG PICTURE
The first step in the property inspecting checklist is to examine is to note down or check out the big picture for the property. Observe the area where the home is located.
To the home you are inspecting, Are there other homes of similar age and construction details relative to it?
A comparison will give you a broad idea of the upkeep of the home. Have there been major modifications to the exterior of the building and if so, how is the workmanship?
EXTERIOR
The next step of the property inspection checklist is that check the exterior face of the house and get a complete view of the house by working your way around the house (clockwise or counter-clockwise) at a certain distance.
On each face (front, sides, and rear) start your illustrative inspection at the top of the structure and move around to the ground and lot area.
For instance, you would start at the front and note down the roof and chimneys, the gutters, fascia, and soffits.
Moving onto the exterior wall coverings (wood, brick, aluminum), doors, noting windows, and so on.
Study any porches or decks down to the foundation, then the grade or slope of the lot area, following any coverings, such as flower beds, walkways, interlocking brick, driveways, etc.
Move around and go closer, to check out the house more closely and also any details which may have attracted your interest, without skipping any items.
Having finished the front, move to the side of the house and start the same procedure (roof to ground).
INTERIOR
On the interior, start your inspection in the basement and then go after the system throughout each floor in the house.
The system for checking the interior is, to begin with, the floor, go to the walls and then the ceiling, and then consider any appliances or other items in the room.
Move-in a similar direction from room to room always, (clockwise or counter-clockwise) so as to not miss any areas. If you see a door, open it and check what’s inside!
In the utility room in the basement, first, observe the floor, the walls (possibly the foundation walls are visible here), then the ceiling (floor joists may be visible), then go and check the furnace, hot water heater, electrical panel, plumbing system, etc.
When inspecting the floors, walls, and ceilings, examine the entire area that is visible, not just one section.
In a finished room, you would detect the floors, walls (including windows), and ceiling.
Subsequently lookout for the heat sources, fireplaces, electrical outlets, and switches, closets, etc.
In the bathroom or kitchen, observe the floor, walls, and ceiling, then the plumbing fixtures.
CONDITION
Always check the system first whether it’s at the exterior or the interior or it’s one of the mechanical systems while doing an inspection.
For instance, if you were examining a wall on the interior of the home you would first observe that the wall is plaster, and then examine the wall for cracks and irregularities.
PROPERTY INSPECTION CHECKLIST
The following are some usual problems or occurrences to look for in the foremost components and systems of the home.
1 – ROOF
Is the ridge (peak) indicating a sag, or is it straight and level?
Is the roof sagging in the middle of the rafters or trusses?
Can you observe any corrosion of asphalt shingles, like curl, wrecked edges, wasping, rounded corners, or keyholes (slits) becoming wider than normal?
Any loose flashing’s, at the chimney, roof-to-wall connection, or somewhere else?
Does the wooden roof deck show rotten or delaminate under the last row of shingles?
Are there any roof vents visible?
2 – CHIMNEYS
Is the masonry cap splintered or broken?
Are any bricks flaking or misplaced? Mortar not there?
Is the chimney leaning?
3 – SOFFIT’S AND FASCIA
Note down whether or not the soffit and fascia are wood, aluminum, or plastic.
Any loose or missing sections?
If wood, are there any paint problems? Any clearly visible rot?
4 – GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS
Make sure gutters slope down toward downspouts.
Any rust or peeling paint?
Evident leaks or loose/sagging sections?
Are the downspouts widening away from the foundations?
5 – WALL COVERINGS
lookout for missing mortar.
Are the bricks flaking or cracking?
Look out for loose, missing, or rotten siding; deteriorated paint.
Does the siding appear new? Does it hide the foundation wall?
Exterior walls bowed, bulged, or leaning?
6 – WINDOWS AND DOORS
Look out for problems with paint or caulking, and rotted wood components.
Are the windows new or older? Are they the original windows? How old are they?
7 – PORCHES AND DECKS
Cracking or flaking masonry?
Look out for paint problems, rotted wood, and wood-earth contact.
Note down any settlement or separation from the house.
Examine the underside, if accessible.
8 – FOUNDATIONS
Look for cracks, flaking, or damaged masonry.
Note down any water markings and efflorescence (whitish, chalky substance)
Any bowing, bulging, or other irregularities?
Soft mortar?
9 – LOT AREA
Does the grade slope away from the house?
Any settled/low areas near the foundation, or cracked walks/driveway?
Is the home lower than the street or neighboring properties?
10 – BASEMENT
Note Down any proof of water penetration (stains, mildew/odors, efflorescence, loose-fitting tiles, etc.).
11 – FLOORS
Look for deteriorated coverings or cracked ceramics.
Any water staining or other damage?
Sloping or sagging?
12 – WALLS
Randomly test to check that the windows and doors work.
Are the walls straight vertically and horizontally?
Check for cracked or loose plaster.
Check for stains, physical damage, or previous repair evidence.
Any drywall seams or nails showing?
13 – CEILINGS
Ensure about the cracks in the plaster or loose, sagging plaster.
Check for stains, mechanical damage, or evidence of the previous repair.
Seams or nails showing?
14 – BATHROOMS AND KITCHENS
Check that all fixtures are secured.
Are there any cracks or holes in the fixtures?
Note down the condition of the tiles and caulking in the tub/shower area.
Are the faucets functioning? Do they leak? Plenty of water pressure?
Observe any staining and rot under the countertops.
Randomly test the operation of the cabinet doors and drawers.
15 – ELECTRO-MECHANICAL CONSIDERATIONS
The Type, style, and age of heating & cooling systems. When was the time they last inspected or serviced?
Type of water supply piping and drains – any noticeable rust and corrosion?
Size and the age of electrical service – are the outlets grounded? Is the Visible wiring in good condition? Have there been any upgrades?
