Home Inspection Checklist

HOME INSPECTION CHECKLIST

 

A-Pro Home Inspectors at work
A-Pro Home Inspection Checklist

This home inspection checklist is broken down by each system and then by its components. For example, structure home inspection checklist, electric home inspection checklist and so forth. At the end of each section you will find a link to the home inspection checklist for that system and its components. The purpose of the home inspection checklist is to show you how in-depth our A-Pro “CHI”-certified Pittsburgh home inspector’s 500-point inspection service really is. We invite you to shop around and check with our competitors to find out how thorough of a home inspection checklist they use. Remember, the State of Utah only sets minimal standards. You certainly don’t want your house to just meet minimum home inspection standards.

 

STRUCTURE HOME INSPECTION CHECKLIST

 

 

Structure Home Inspection Checklist

Familiarize yourself with the following systems and components as well as the home inspection checklist at the end of the bullets of each section; This should give you a good idea of what your “CHI “Certified Pittsburgh Home Inspector will be looking for with his/her trained eye.

  • Defects in the walls, roof framing, exterior wall framing, interior framing, or cracks in the foundation may indicate a serious structural problem that may be the result of poor structural design, foundation settlement, poor construction techniques, improper structural modification, water damage, termite damage or other causes.
  • Raising up a house to replace damaged structural components, or underpinning a defective foundation wall is a major expense.
  • The home inspector has the experience, education, and expertise to evaluate structural problems. This is one of the reasons why retaining the services of a “CHI” Certified Pittsburgh Home Inspector to conduct your home inspection instead of a home inspector who is not “CHI” Certified is advantageous.
  • Make sure your “CHI” Certified Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Home Inspector performs a “Foundation Level Survey” (SECTION 2.01) to determine the levelness of the foundation which is in many times the cause of structural defects.
  • Please note that most standards of practice do NOT require home inspectors to check the foundation levelness. As an example, foundation levelness testing is not required by ASHI®, NAHI®or InterNACHI®.
  • To download an illustrative Foundation Handbook including checklist click here.
  • To see what’s inspected by your “CHI” home inspection checklist for structures click here.

ROOFING HOME INSPECTION CHECKLIST

 

 

Roofing Home Inspection Checklist
Roofing Home Inspection Checklist

Wear on a roof may be visible if Familiarize yourself with the following systems and components as well as the checklist at the end of the bullets; This should give you a good idea of what your “CHI “Certified Pittsburgh Home Inspector will be looking for with his/her trained eye.

  • the wear is very advanced but a roof that is starting to age is a more of a subtle defect that the “CHI” Certified Pittsburgh Home Inspector can expose.
  • Resurfacing a roof can be a huge undertaking and costs thousands of dollars; if the existing roofing surface needs to be removed prior to re-roofing it can cost even more. This major expense may be paid by the seller if it wasn’t identified in the disclosure documentation.
  • To see what’s inspected by your “CHI” home inspection checklist for roofing click here.

EXTERIOR HOME INSPECTION CHECKLIST

 

Exterior Home Inspection Checklist

Familiarize yourself with the following systems and components as well as the checklist at the end of the bullets; This should give you a good idea of what your “CHI “Certified Pittsburgh Home Inspector will be looking for with his/her trained eye.

  • The siding or exterior of the house should be carefully inspected because it too can cost thousands of dollars to repair or replace.
  • Homes constructed prior to 1978 may contain lead paint which can be a problem if there is widespread deterioration of the paint surface. Lead-based paint is hazardous to your health. Your “CHI” Certified Pittsburgh Home Inspector home inspector may recommend further evaluation by a specialist to perform an X-ray evaluation of the paint surface for lead content. To properly eradicate lead paint can cost thousands of dollars.
  • Replacement of older windows can cost thousands of dollars too. Your “CHI” Certified Pittsburgh Home Inspector can make sure you don’t overlook this possible deficiency.
  • Your “CHI” Certified Pittsburgh home inspector will make sure that the land around the home is properly graded and diverts water away from the home. This will help to reduce the possibility of water intrusion into the home and also help prevent potential vermin activity.
  • To see what’s inspected by your “CHI” home inspection checklist for exteriors click here.

ELECTRICAL HOME INSPECTION CHECKLIST

Electric Home Inspection Checklist

Familiarize yourself with the following systems and components as well as the checklist at the end of the bullets; This should give you a good idea of what your “CHI “Certified Pittsburgh Home Inspector will be looking for with his/her trained eye.

  • There are many home wiring safety hazards with electrical systems. The government claims over 46,000 fires per year are caused by home electrical systems. Your “CHI” home inspector can help you identify these hazards before signing on the bottom line.
  • At the outset of the electrical inspection, the “CHI” Certified Pittsburgh Home Inspector will determine the size of the service to determine if it is adequately sized for the home; installing an upgraded electrical service into a home can cost a thousand dollars or more.
  • The electrical system should then be checked by removing the cover plate from the electric service panel. Once the wiring is exposed, the “CHI” Certified Pittsburgh Home Inspector looks for problems in the panel such as undersized or oversized wiring, burned wiring, overfused circuits (the fuse or circuit breaker is too large for the wire size), improper wiring connections, openings in the panel, unprofessionally installed wiring, and the like.
  • In addition to checking for an adequate quantity of electrical switches and convenience outlets in the house, the outlets should be checked for open ground and wiring reversal conditions.
  • The “CHI” home inspector will also check to make sure GFCI receptacles are in installed in proper places, for example, near wet area, sinks, bathrooms and the like.
  • Exposed wiring, dead-ended wiring, and other faulty wirings will be noted as a safety hazard in your home inspection report.
  • Homes wired in the mid-60s to mid-70s may have aluminum wiring and if so, the “CHI” Certified Pittsburgh Home Inspector should determine if an approved retrofit has been installed at the wiring connections; if not, a potential fire safety hazard exists.
  • If the home is very old, it may have knob and tube wiring. According to HUD, Knob and tube wiring is acceptable if found to be in good condition and a minimum of 60-amps. Otherwise, is this is obsolete wiring that can be hazardous. Extensive rewiring replacement can cost thousands of dollars.
  • To see what’s inspected by your “CHI” home inspection checklist for structures click here.

INSULATION/VENTILATION HOME INSPECTION CHECKLIST

Insulation/Ventilation Checklist

Familiarize yourself with the following systems and components as well as the checklist at the end of the bullets; This should give you a good idea of what your “CHI “Certified Pittsburgh Home Inspector will be looking for with his/her trained eye.

  • Insulation keeps your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
  • What are the Recommended Levels of Insulation for a home?
  • Proper ventilation in a home is more important than many home buyers may think. Inadequate ventilation in an attic can result in accelerated deterioration of the structural roof deck. If this occurs, a major expense will be incurred to remove and replace the roofing shingles and roof deck, and in extreme cases–the roof rafters.
  • For a free homeowner’s ventilation guide click here.
  • To see what’s inspected by your “CHI” home inspection checklist for insulation/ventilation click here.

 

PLUMBING HOME INSPECTION CHECKLIST

Plumbing Home Inspection Checklist

Familiarize yourself with the following systems and components as well as the checklist at the end of the bullets; This should give you a good idea of what your “CHI “Certified Pittsburgh Home Inspector will be looking for with his/her trained eye.

  • The “CHI” Certified Pittsburgh Home Inspector will determine the type of pipe that supplies water to the house from the municipal main in the street.
  • Keep in mind, that all buildings settle and that over time, usually 25-30 years or so, the plumbing under the foundation may begin to cause problems, such as slow draining pipes and repetitive clogs. Since these type problems can cost in some cases over ten thousand dollars to repair, you may want to ask your “CHI” home inspector to perform a pipeline video inspection. An inspection of this type typically cost about $350 and can easily pay for itself.
  • Old lead and galvanized steel water supply pipes, replacement costs thousands of dollars. Be sure that your “CHI” Certified Pittsburgh Home Inspector checks the piping distribution in the house for a type of material and condition looking for deterioration, incompatible piping materials, and leaks.
  • Your “CHI” Certified Pittsburgh Home Inspector will carry a moisture meter to evaluate any suspect plaster or wallboard on the ceilings and walls caused by water leaks; replacing the piping network in the walls and ceilings is a major expense that can cost thousands of dollars.
  • Be sure that the “CHI” Certified Pittsburgh Home Inspector checks all of the fixtures and faucets for proper operation, and also checks a tiled bathtub and shower enclosures for integrity.
  • Replacement of tiles in a bathroom or replacement of a shower pan can run in the thousands of dollars.
  • To see what’s inspected by your “CHI” home inspection checklist for plumbing click here.

COOLING/HEATING HOME INSPECTION CHECKLIST

HVAC Home Inspection Checklist

Familiarize yourself with the following systems and components as well as the checklist at the end of the bullets; This should give you a good idea of what your “CHI “Certified Pittsburgh Home Inspector will be looking for with his/her trained eye.

  • The home inspection “CHI” Certified Pittsburgh Home Inspector should test the central air-conditioning system to be sure that it is cooling properly.  
  • Replacement of an air-conditioning compressor can cost two to five thousand dollars.
  • Defective furnace heat exchangers are not always easy to uncover and can release deadly carbon monoxide into the home. Replacement can cost three to four thousand dollars.
  • Leaking boilers systems will also require replacement as such the cost is three to five thousand dollars. Your “CHI” Certified Pittsburgh Home Inspector should look for these major defects.
  • The “CHI” Certified Pittsburgh Home Inspector will be sure that the heat distribution is satisfactory and that the heat distribution piping or ductwork is in good condition.
  • Safety concerns such as defective controls, inoperative emergency switches, and evidence of past malfunctions and carbon monoxide emissions must be carefully investigated by the “CHI” Certified Pittsburgh Home Inspector.
  • Plan on replacing any system twenty years or older with a modern efficient heating system.
  • Beware of special problems associated with radiant floor heating and other floor type heating systems as they may cause a safety hazard.
  • The “CHI” Certified Pittsburgh Home Inspector should advise you to have underground oil storage tanks tested for reliability; a leaking underground oil storage tank can cause thousands of dollars of environmental damage.
  • Another environmental concern is the existence of insulation that may contain asbestos and is especially hazardous if the material is friable. The “CHI” Certified Pittsburgh Home Inspector will advise you to have any suspect material laboratory tested.
  • To see what’s inspected by your “CHI” home inspection checklist for HVAC systems click here.

INTERIOR HOME INSPECTION CHECKLIST

Familiarize yourself with the following systems and components as well as the checklist at the end of the bullets; This should give you a good idea of what your “CHI “Certified Pittsburgh Home Inspector will be looking for with his/her trained eye.

  • The basement areas of the home should also be thoroughly checked for signs of water intrusion, such as stains, mildew, odor, dampness, efflorescence on the walls and floors, and damaged and or cupping floors which is many times caused by moisture. These defects that can cost thousands of dollars to repair.
  • “CHI” Certified Pittsburgh Home Inspectors look for waterproofing systems, sump pumps, and so forth, in the basement; these systems can help to reduce the risk of water flooding in the basement. If a house needs waterproofing measures, this too can run into the thousands of dollars.
  • To see what’s inspected by your “CHI” home inspection checklist for interiors click here.

 

BUILT-IN APPLIANCE HOME INSPECTION CHECKLIST

Familiarize yourself with the following systems and components as well as the checklist at the end of the bullets; This should give you a good idea of what your “CHI “Certified Pittsburgh Home Inspector will be looking for with his/her trained eye.

Replacement or repair of defective appliances can cost hundreds if not, thousands of dollars. The systems tested are dishwasher through its normal cycle.

  • Range, cooktop, and oven; Trash compactor; Garbage disposal.
  • ventilation equipment or range hood; microwave oven; Central Vacuum System; and any other built-In-Appliance.
  • Non-built-in appliances such as clothes washers and dryers, Refrigeration units such as freezers, refrigerators, and ice makers may be at an additional fee.

 It’s important to note that ONLY ISHI standards require “CHI” inspectors to inspect all built -in appliances.g., appliances are not required to be inspected by ASHI®, NAHI® or InterNACHI® standards of practice.

To see what’s inspected by your “CHI” home inspection checklist for appliances click here.

 

DEFERRED MAINTENANCE CAN BE INDICATIVE OF MAJOR PROBLEMS WHEN BUYING A HOME SO TAKE YOUR HOME BUYERS HOME INSPECTION CHECKLIST WITH YOU

  • Beware of homes where deferred maintenance is evident. The cost to service the home and bring it up to standard can run into the thousands.
  • Beware of homes where there is obvious plumbing and electrical work, as well as structural additions and renovations that were not installed professionally and were most likely installed by the home owner; correcting these defects can cost thousands of dollars.

OTHER IMPORTANT HOME BUYING OR HOME SELLING FACTS AND YOUR HOME BUYERS HOME INSPECTION CHECKLIST FOR DOWNLOAD

  • It is preferable to retain the services of a “CHI” Certified Pittsburgh home inspector who issues a full written report detailing what is wrong, why it’s wrong, and what needs to be done to correct the uncovered defects. It’s just important to make sure that your inspector has the knowledge of reporting the positive attributes of the home as well. When making such a huge buying decision this can help you keep the existing home in proper perspective.
  • Checklist home inspection reports such as checking off good, fair, poor, and the like are inadequate. Typically, these home inspection reports consist of checklists handed to you at the end of an inspection that leaves you wondering what to do next.
  • Be sure that you retain the services of a “CHI” Certified Pittsburgh Home Inspector whose door is always open for future questions and or follow up inspections which give you the details you need to make the biggest investment of your life.
  • Take a copy of the home buyers’ home inspection checklist when you visiting perspective homes when you see a home that you might consider, use the checklist to make notes. You will find this checklist to be an invaluable resource to help you remember what you’ve seen and will be an important aid when you accompany your professional “CHI” Certified Pittsburgh Home Inspector during your home inspection.
  • As a home buyer or seller understand the advantages of retaining the services of a “CHI” Certified Pittsburgh Home Inspector who performs a 500-point home inspection that starts with a comprehensive home inspection checklist.

Any questions at all, just call for one of our fast, friendly Pittsburgh home inspectors 1-724-590-0074!

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