What Your General Home Inspection Should Cover
- Siding: Look for dents or buckling.
- Foundations: Look for cracks or water seepage.
- Exterior Brick: Look for cracked bricks or mortar pulling away from bricks.
- Insulation: Look for condition, adequate rating for climate.
- Doors and Windows: Look for loose or tight fits, condition of locks, condition of weather-stripping.
- Roof: Look for age, conditions of flashing, pooling water, buckled shingles, or loose gutters and downspouts.
- Ceilings, walls, and moldings: Look for loose pieces, drywall that is pulling away.
- Porch/Deck: Loose railings or step, rot.
- Electrical: Look for condition of fuse box/circuit breakers, number of outlets in each room.
- Plumbing: Look for poor water pressure, banging pipes, rust spots or corrosion that indicate leaks, sufficient insulation.
- Water Heater: Look for age, size adequate for house, speed of recovery, energy rating.
- Furnace/Air Conditioning: Look for age, energy rating; Furnaces are rated by annual fuel utilization efficiency; the higher the rating, the lower your fuel costs. However, other factors such as payback period and other operating costs, such as electricity to operate motors.
- Garage: Look for exterior in good repair; condition of floor—cracks, stains, etc.; condition of door mechanism.
- Basement: Look for water leakage, musty smell.
- Attic: Look for adequate ventilation, water leaks from roof.
- Septic Tanks (if applicable): Adequate absorption field capacity for the percolation rate in your area and the size of your family.
- Driveways/Sidewalks: Look for cracks, heaving pavement, crumbling near edges, stains.
- And, answer your questions so you feel confident and informed about the home you are buying!
San Francisco real estate consists of many old homes and some new construction. No property is perfect, regardless of its age. Even a brand-new luxury condo in South Beach can have issues! And, the truth is that no matter how well you inspect, there are things you’ll discover only after living in your home. The goal is to thoroughly inspect so you know what you are getting yourself into and can make an informed decision. This is not The Money Pit!
Recommended San Francisco Home & Pest Inspectors.
Courtesy of Realtor.org information for real estate consumers.
