Home Inspections

Home Inspection: 10 Things to Inspect Before Moving In

Published

4 years ago

September 5, 2020

Annika

A home inspection is one of the most exciting moments when buying a home. For some, this may be their first time to see the property personally. But this is not just about seeing your soon-to-be-home for the first time, but you get to inspect the overall aspect of the property. Although investing in a brand new property may have the qualities that meet to your standard, that does not mean you will be complacent when it comes to home inspection.

To live in a quality home, you must know what places or things to inspect before you move in. Moreover, having a home inspection checklist would come in handy to prevent any minor problems from growing out of control and becoming costly mistakes later on. Apart from it saves a lot of your money, it also saves your time and effort doing some future repairs.

If you plan to inspect the property, we’ve provided a helpful home inspection checklist below, where you can refer to as often as you need it. Also, taking down notes would help you remember the things you need to inspect.

Table of Contents

10 Things to Inspect Before Moving In

1. Foundation

The foundation of the house is one of the things you should never forget to check. Make sure to look at the base of the walls and the ceilings in each room. If you notice any cracks or apparent shift in the foundation, you need to seek help from the expert to fix that particular problem. Moreover, do the same from the outside. Make sure that the foundation of its exterior is durable enough to last long.

2. Lot

If you think that the lot is not that important, then you should think again. This is where you can identify whether you are safe enough to live in that particular property. Know whether the drainage appears to be away from your soon-to-be-home or not. Moreover, inspect the areas as well if it is soggy or not. With this, you will know if the property is right for you.

3. Roof

The roof of the property is one thing you should also consider. Make sure you know its overall condition – whether if it is durable enough to last longer. Moreover, do not forget to ask the previous owner about when was the roof last replaced. With this, you will know whether or not you are safe with the current roof.

4. Exterior

Again, you do not just inspect the interior of the property, but the exterior as well. Make sure you know if the house look like it will need repairs or repainting soon. Check the gutters and downspouts if it is firmly attached or not. What about loose boards or dangling wires? Inspecting these things would give you an idea what your exterior would look.

5. Attic

If the property has an attic, make sure to include it in your home inspection checklist. You have to know how the interior of the roof structure looks. Moreover, check if there are any signs of leaks. Of course, this is to make sure that you will not get any disappointments with the attic later on. Additionally, a good attic will come in handy when you know what to do with it.

6. Interior evidence of leaks

Leaks are a no-no. If you want to live in a comfortable home, then you should check if there are leaks or not. Carefully inspect the ceiling and around the windows of each room. With this, you will be able to determine if there are any leaks.

7. Basement

Just like any other places in your home, you also need to inspect the basement – if the property has. Make sure that the area is not damp and not creepy enough to visit the place. Moreover, make sure that the basement has an adequate insulation.

8. Electrical

The electrical aspect of the property is one thing you should never forget to inspect. Make sure to examine whether the switches are working, or any obvious malfunctions, or even check if the outlets are grounded. This is to ensure that you will live in a safer home.

9. Plumbing

Another thing to consider is the plumbing. You have to make sure if there are any unusual noises or malfunctions. If you notice these signs, you better consult and hire and expert to fix the problem.

10. Odor

If you do not want to be suffocated with a foul smell, then you better consider if the property has a bad smell or not – whether the odor comes from the neighbor’s pets or the drainage. This is to make sure that you will have a healthy way of living.

Inspectors are not as perfect as we think they are. But at least, you know which of the things in the property are important enough for you to inspect. Of course, if you are not sure any of this stuff, you should hire an expert to make sure you will achieve a desirable outcome.