Exteriors
- The exterior wall-covering materials, flashing and trim
- All exterior doors
- Adjacent walkways and driveways
- Stairs, steps, stoops, stairways, and ramps
- Porches, patios, decks, balconies, and carports
- Railings, guards, and handrails
- The eaves, soffits, and fascia
- Windows
- Vegetation, surface drainage, retaining walls and grading of the property, where they may adversely affect the structure due to moisture intrusion
Roofing
- The roof-covering materials
- The gutters
- The downspouts
- The vents, flashing, skylights, and other roof penetrations
- Chimney
- The general structure of the roof from the readily accessible panels, doors, or stairs
- I’ll walk the roof if allowable and weather permitting
Heating & Cooling
- The heating system, using normal operating controls
- The location of the thermostat for the heating system
- The energy source
- The heating method
- The cooling system, using normal operating controls
- The location of the thermostat for the cooling system
Kitchen & Appliances
- Flooring
- Cabinets & Countertops
- Lighting
- Sinks, faucets, plumbing
- Electrical
- All permanent appliances
Plumbing
- The main water supply shut-off valve
- The water heating equipment, including the energy source, venting connections, temperature/pressure-relief (tpr) valves
- Interior water supply, including all fixtures and faucets, by running the water
- All toilets
- All sinks, tubs, and showers for functional
- The drain, waste, and vent system
- Drainage sump pumps with accessible floats.
Electrical
- The Service drop
- The overhead service conductors and attachment point
- The service head, gooseneck and drip loops
- The service mast, service conduit and raceway
- The electric meter and base
- Service-entrance conductors
- The main service disconnect
- Panelboards and over-current protection devices (circuit breakers and fuses)
- Service grounding and bonding
- All accessible switches, lighting fixtures and receptacles, including receptacles observed and deemed to be arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI)-protected using the AFCI test button, where possible
- All accessible ground-fault circuit interrupter receptacles (GFCIs) using a GFCI tester
Attic, Insulation & Ventilation
- Insulation in unfinished spaces, including attics, crawlspaces and foundation areas
- Ventilation of unfinished spaces, including attics, crawlspaces and foundation areas
- Mechanical exhaust systems in the kitchen, bathrooms and laundry area
Garage
- Door type & material
- Door opener testing
- Side/rear door condition
- Walls, windows, ceilings
- Separation wall
Doors, Windows & Interior
- All accessible doors and windows by opening and closing them
- Floors, walls, and ceilings
- Stairs, landings, stairways, and ramps
- Railings, guards, and handrails
Fireplace
- Readily accessible and visible portions of the fireplaces and chimneys
- Lintels above the fireplace openings
- Damper doors by opening and closing them, if readily accessible and manually operable
- Clean-out doors and frames
Visual Inspection for Evidence of
- Mold and Asbestos
- Critters
- Wood Destroying Organisms
- Carpenter Ants
- Carpenter Bees
- Powder Post Beetles
- Termites