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Note: We are a full service inspection company, serving Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. This is NOT our inspection report. This is a checklist ONLY to help sellers:
If you would like to see a sample of our inspectors report click on the following link: FULL INSPECTION REPORT VERY IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING:
HOME EVALUATION GUIDE FOR SELLERS: In a competitive market, you want your home to "stand out in the crowd." Eliminating major defects makes a property more desirable, and leads to a favorable home inspection report for the buyer - thereby helping expedite a sale. This checklist could help you evaluate your real estate prior to putting it on the market for sale. It is not intended to replace a comprehensive home inspection by a qualified, experienced, professional inspector who is fully insured. We hope that sellers will find this checklist helpful in evaluating their property and correcting problems that could adversely affect pre-purchase negotiations. INSPECTION CHECKLIST Use a checklist like this to make sure that you are looking at all parts of the house. Check off those items that are in good condition and make notes about those that are not. (This list describes an ideal house, but no house is perfect.) Grounds ____ Proper rain drainage away from house ____ No evidence of standing water ____ No leaks from septic tank or leech field ____ Yard, landscaping, trees and paths in good condition ____ No branches or bushes touching house or roof ____ Exterior structures (fences, sheds, decks, retaining walls, detached garages) in good condition, no evidence of termite damage or rot ____ Railings on stairs and decks are adequate and secure ____ Driveways, sidewalks, patios, stoops in good condition, and sloping away from structure ____ Downspout drainage directed away from structure Structure ____ Ridge and fascia lines appear straight and level ____ Sides of house appear straight, not bowed or sagging ____ Window and door frames appear square ____ Visible foundation in good condition - appears straight, plumb, with no significant cracks Exterior Surfaces ____ Adequate clearance between ground and wood materials (6" minimum): no wood-to-earth contact ____ Shingles and siding: no cracking, curling or decay ____ Brick veneer: no cracks in joints, no broken or flaking bricks ____ Stucco: no large cracks (discuss all stucco cracks with a professional inspector) ____ Vinyl or steel siding: no dents from hail 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 or decay ____ Joints around frames are caulked ____ No broken glass or damaged screens, no broken seals on double-pane insulated glass ____ Glazing compound in good condition ____ Storm windows or thermal glass used ____ Drip cap installed Roof ____ Composition shingles: no curling, no loss of granulation, no broken, damaged or missing shingles, no more than two layers of roofing ____ Wood shingles or shakes: no mold or decay, do damage, no curling ____ Flat roof: no obvious patches, no cracks or splits, minimal blisters and wrinkles, no silt deposits (which indicate improper drainage) ____ Flashing around roof penetrations ____ No evidence of excess roofing cement ____ Soffits and fascia: no decay, no stains ____ Exterior venting for area under roof (soffit vents and ridge vents are preferable), vents are clean ____ 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 cap in good condition Attic ____ No stains on underside of roofing, especially around roof penetrations ____ No evidence of decay or damage to structure ____ Adequate insulation: ____inches of _______ ____ Adequate venting, clear path into attic for air entering through soffit vents ____ No plumbing, exhaust or appliance vents terminating in attic ____ No open electrical splices Interior Rooms ____ Floors, walls and ceilings appear straight and plumb/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 ____ 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 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 smoke, damper operates properly, flue has been cleaned, flue is lined Kitchen ____ Working exhaust fan ____ GFCI protection for electrical outlets near sink ____ Dishwasher: drains properly, no leaks, baskets ____ No leaks in pipes under sinks ____ Floor in cabinet under sink solid, no stains or decay ____ Water flow in sink adequate ____ No excessive rust on garbage disposal ____ Built-in appliances operate properly ____ Cabinets in good condition: doors and drawers operate properly Bathrooms ____ Working exhaust fan ____ Adequate flow and pressure in 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 tub and shower area ____ Tub or shower tiles secure, wall surface solid ____ No stains around base of bath or shower Miscellaneous ____ Smoke detectors where required ____ Stairway treads and risers solid ____ Stair rails 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 (or "band") joists (recommended in cold climates) Crawl Space ____ Adequately vented to outside ____ Insulation on exposed pipes and vents ____ 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 ____ Water heater: no signs of rust, vented properly, seismically secured (attached to studs) ____ Water pump: does not short cycle ____ Galvanized pipes do not appear to restrict water flow ____ Drain clean out does not show signs of frequent use ____ Well water test is acceptable 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 ____ Flues: no open seams, slopes up to outside ____ No rust around cooling unit ____ No combustion gas odor ____ Air filter clean ____ Ductwork in good condition ____ No asbestos on steam or water pipes, or air ducts ____ Separate flues for gas/oil/propane and wood/coal QUESTIONS for the SELLER Some states and cities have disclosure laws requiring sellers to state any problems that they are aware of. Here are some questions you may need to answer: ____ Who performed the work on any recent repairs, improvements, or remodeling? Were the appropriate building permits obtained and inspections performed? ____ Have there been any leaks in the roof? Has there been a problem with ice dams? How old is the roof? ____ Has there been any leakage or moisture in the basement? ____ Has the septic system or sewer line required unusual maintenance? ____ Can you provide copies of heating, electric and other utility bills? ____ Has an exterminator ever been hired for the property? ____ Has the structure been tested for hazardous materials such as radon, asbestos and lead? If you would like more information about our services, visit our Home Page. We inspect properties in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. Our services include:
If you are purchasing your next home in Southern New Hampshire or the New Hampshire Seacoast, Eastern Massachusetts or Southern Maine, don't hesitate to call us. Our certified, licensed, educated inspectors will help you with your next house purchase. |
Copyright © 1999-2006 Sandra Maida
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Home Sellers who want their
property to "stand out in the crowd" can use the
"Evaluation Guide For
Sellers" found on this page of our website (see
below).