When considering purchasing a home, whether it's new construction or an existing property, a home inspection by a professional engineer, builder, architect, home inspector or other professional is always recommended. There are many areas of a home that are out of sight, but still critical, and a professional knows how to evaluate items like the electrical system, mechanical systems, roof, insulation, structure, water conditions and more. But, as the potential homeowner, here is a list of items that you can visually inspect or test for yourself in the early stages. It may be that some (many) items, in older homes, do not meet all these criteria, but you can then plan the cost of repair or replacement, if necessary, into your calculations. In new construction, things should be right before you move in. Prepare a punch list (a list of needed repairs) for the builder of items that needed to be fixed or corrected before you close and move in. My recommendation is to get repairs or corrections done before you close. Once your money is in someone else's hands, the incentive for them to do the work is significantly diminished.
Exterior:
Foundation - check for cracking, or settling gaps around windows and doors. Look for signs of erosion near downspouts or areas under roof runoff. Check during a rainstorm to be sure that the water does not run back towards the house and that there is no ponding (puddles) near your foundation.
Sprinkler System - If the yard has a sprinkler system, turn it on if possible and see that the sprinklers are working, that the water pressure appears adequate.
Walks & Driveways - Look to see that walks, steps, terraces, driveways and pavers are not cracked, uneven, do not retain water when it rains, and that they appear to be in good condition.
Grass - Check the grass for large dead spots or yellowing areas that could indicate problems if there is an underground septic field.
Siding - check to see that the outside walls are free of nicks and splits, that any holes through the outside for pipes or wires have been neatly closed with caulking, flashing or other sealing materials.
Windows & Doors - check that windows and doors appear to be in good condition and that they open and close smoothly. Understand whether the windows are single panes of glass (in older homes) or are a sealed two-pane system in newer homes. If the home has an insulated glass system, check to be sure that there is no moisture between the two panes, as this could indicate a broken seal. If the windows are a single pane, ask whether there are storm windows and screens for them. Windows in poor condition can cause significant air leakage into the house and can be expensive to replace, especially if they are not standard sizes.
Roofs - visually inspect the roof (from below) for missing shingles, ridge vents, apparent waviness, gutter conditions (are plants growing out of the gutters - a sign of lack of cleaning and maintenance).
Water & Sewers - Is the home hooked up to city water & sewer or does it have either a well and/or a septic field?
Mechanical
Hot water heater, furnace - ask for age, repair/maintenance records, warranties and just check appearance
Electrical - what amperage is the panel box? Will it need to be upgraded to meet your requirements? Is there cable already installed and internet wired throughout the house? What condition is the wiring in the walls? (Much of this requires a professional evaluation). But you can turn on and off all light switches to make sure they are working and try all electrical outlets.
Heating & Air Conditioning - Understand what kind of system the home has. Is it gas or oil? Is there an underground oil tank? If there is an underground tank, you want to be very sure that it is in good condition, as you could be responsible for major cleanup expenses if the tank has leaked into the ground. Are there radiators or a central hot air heating system with outlets in each room? Does the home have central air or are there units in each room? If there are units in each room, how old are they and will they need to be replaced? Turn on the heat and/or air conditioning (if applicable) and leave on for a while, check and make sure all radiators or vents are working.
Interior
Ceilings - Look up at the ceilings and look for signs of leaks from the roof or bathrooms above. Changes in color, the appearance of mildew or spotting or water stains can indicate a problem.
Basements - look for signs of water damage on the lower part of the walls: spotting, color changes, warping of any shelving or furniture at its base. This could indicate intermittent flooding. Check for a sump pump. Many areas have high water tables and ground water is well controlled through a sump pump
Faucets - turn on all the faucets and leave them running for a few minutes. This will test water pressure and flow. If you turn the hot on for a while, you can make the sure that the Hot Water Heater is providing at least some hot water.
Smoke Detectors - check to see that smoke detectors are installed throughout the house. They may be wired into a security system or battery operated. Make sure they are working!
Kitchen - look at cabinets, cabinet doors, faces, hinges. Check whether the cabinets appear level, whether the doors are cracked, stained, warped or otherwise damaged. Is the style one you can live with, or will you need to replace the cabinets? Check floor. If it is tile, check to see whether there is cracking, which could be signs of settling or inadequate preparation under the tile.
Appliances - check age (relates to energy efficiency in refrigerators, washers, dryers and others), general condition and appearance. Is the laundry room in a location that's acceptable for you?
Countertops - what is the material? All seams should be flush at joints. Check whether there is any wearing out, delaminating or warping of Formica type products and whether the seams are tight and clean on stone countertops. If there is a tile back splash, look at the grout. Certainly in new construction the grout should be very neat, all filled in, the tile faces should be clean, the corners should be smooth and straight.
Walls - in new construction the drywall should not be cracked anywhere, and paint should completely cover all surfaces.
Floors - bring a few marbles with you and put them down on the floors in various places. If they roll around, your floors are not level and you should know why. Old homes often settle and the unevenness may have been there for many, many years and there is no danger or structural problem, but an engineer or home inspector, as mentioned in the beginning of this article, is very important to confirm the cause. In a new home, marbles should not be rolling around and your floors should be level.
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