Home Inspection Checklist
As many of us do before a purchase, we research the product. It is our job to give you an objective opinion on the health and safety of your soon-to-be investment. PacWest offers an extensive home inspection by licensed inspectors where we walk through and discuss every aspect of your property with you and your real estate agent. For every physical aspect and systematic feature of your home, we breakdown our findings into as many as 4 tabs within our Report: overview, information, limitations, and standards. Our goal is to outline the current condition of your roof, garage, sewer, etc. and how it compares to its corresponding safety standard. Items that fall short of these standards are labeled by their threat level from a simple cosmetic repair to an immediate safety concern. As an added measure, we run the make and model of your built-in appliances through our RecallChek program checking over 205 million recall reports from multiple public databases at no extra cost. PacWest Home Inspections puts all our focus on you.
When Is A Home Inspection Needed?
Home inspections are needed when you are buying a new piece of property. If a larger issue arises with a building’s electrical system or foundation, for example, you are given the leverage to back out of a sale with little to no penalties. Now, when you’re moving into a newly constructed home, the building company usually offers a home warranty lasting 1 to 3 years. Schedule a full home inspection before your warranty expires. Is a home inspection needed before your warranty is up? No. Is it prudent of new property owners? Yes. Because the responsibility of repairs is most likely still covered by the construction company. This saves you time and money down the line by addressing existing or developing problems now.
With our assistance, you’ll have all the information needed to make the most well-inform decisions for your property. And to help you understand what is involved in an Inspection we have included this handy checklist to give you a full picture view of what to expect.
Roof
- Type/Style
- Roof
- Material
- Age
- Leaks
- Gutters
- Downspouts
- Flashing and Trim
Insulation/Ventilation
- Attic Insulation
- R Value
- Type
- Wall Insulation
- R Value
- Type
- Floor Insulation
- R Value
- Type
- Ventilation
- Roof
- Soffits
- Exhaust Systems
- Kitchen
- Bathroom
- Laundry
- Radon System
Exterior
- Siding
- Trim & Flashing
- Exterior Doors
- Windows
- Driveways, Walkways, & Front Porches
- Decks, Balconies, & Patios
- Vegetation, Grading, Drainage & Retaining Walls
- Fence
- Hose Bib
- Shed/Outbuilding
Structure
- Foundation
- Basements & Crawlspaces
- Floor Structure
- Wall Structure
- Roofing/Attic Structure
Cooling
- Cooling Equipment
- Type
- Age
Heating
- Equipment
- Type
- Fuel/Energy
- Age
- Distribution Systems
- Ducting
- Fireplace, Stove
- Chimney, Vents and Flues
Plumbing
- Water Shut-off Device
- Drain, Waste, & Vent Systems
- Water Supply, Distribution Systems
- Sinks
- Tub / Shower
- Water Heater
- Type
- Age
- Capacity
Electrical
- Service Entrance Conductors and Meter
- Main & Subpanels
- Branch Wiring Circuits, Breakers & Fuses
- Outlets, Switches, Fixtures & Junction Boxes
- GFCI & AFCI
- Smoke Detectors
- Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Garage
- Garage Door
- Garage Door Opener
- Bollard
- Occupant Door (From garage to inside of home)
- Attic
- Floor
- Walls
- Ceiling
Interior
- Doors
- Windows
- Floors
- Walls
- Ceilings
- Countertops
- Cabinets
Appliance
- Refrigerator
- Range/Oven/Cooktop
- Dishwasher
- Built-in Microwave
- Garbage Disposal
- Washing Machine
- Dryer
Depending on the type of home you’re in and where you live, your inspection may differ from the generic checklist above. You may also choose to opt for additional services like mold, lead, asbestos, sewer, and radon testing. It’s important to hire a certified home inspector because the real condition of a home is not always apparent to the untrained eye. Even if a home looks like it’s in perfect condition, there very well could be some serious structural issues.
Because buying a home is probably the biggest investment that you will make, a home inspection just gives you that chance to avoid problems down the road. Buying a home is stressful enough, you don’t want to have to worry about problems! No one has time for that! Getting a home inspection just allows you to go into a deal eyes wide open and hopefully eases your mind a bit knowing that you’re making a good investment.