How to Do Your Annual Home Inspection
It is always a good idea to consult a professional home inspector before buying a home, but this is not the only time you take a close look at your home. Here’s a checklist of what to look for when doing an annual visual inspection of your own home or the one you’re about to buy.
When buying a property, you shouldn’t miss a professional home inspection. But when you visit your home for the first time, you can also do your own visual inspection to find specific problem areas. Even after you buy a home, if you do it at least once a year, you can fix most problems before they become serious.
You will need binoculars, a flashlight, gloves, a screwdriver, a notebook and a pen, and a camera to document problems.
Outside home
Start looking at the outside of the house where you find the most problems. Use binoculars to inspect the roofline, high walls, and chimney. If you are not aware of serious damage, leave roof climbing for the professionals.
Take a slow walk around the house and look around everything. Does everything look smooth? The roof lines should appear solid, with no slope or slope. Windows should be square and free of rotting wood around them. Also, take a look:
- Gutters and downpipes : check for cracks, blockages and damaged elbows. These problem areas allow water to drain down the walls and into the foundation, which can cause serious damage. Use the ladder to explore branches or grass growing from the gutter.
- Paint : Check if paint is peeling, which could be a sign of moisture penetrating the wall. Paint cracks and flakes due to adhesion problems or surface damage. These are indicators that the siding needs replacement or repair.
- Chimneys : Look for anything that might block the chimney opening, such as a bird’s nest or fallen leaves. Examine the bricks and grout around the chimney to see if it is intact, with no cracks or debris that water can seep through.
- Roof : Check for broken or missing shingles that compromise the weather protection of your home. Large tree branches that rest on or above your roof can allow unwanted pests and rodents to enter your home. Tree branches that break during a storm can also wreak havoc.
- Foundation : Note the slope around the foundation. It should be at least 8 inches below the siding (to keep insects out of the siding) and sloped away from the house. Watch for micro-cracks in the foundation and take photographs to document their size. Larger cracks in the concrete should be inspected by a professional.
- Driveways and Garage : Loose and cracking asphalt is a tripping hazard and is also a water entry point that can wreak havoc during the colder months.
- Windows : Look for rotten sealant that is flaking or flaking. These areas are essential for water and cold air to enter your home.
- Decks, stairs and porches: These areas require regular maintenance and are important to check above and below the surface. Look for loose and broken boards and missing screws. Check for signs of termite damage, including forest tunnels or winged insects.
Preventing water from entering your home is the number one issue when inspecting your home. Water and moisture inside your walls, floors, and basement are expensive to find and fix. With some preventative work done, you have a great chance to spot the problem early.
Inside the house
Use a flashlight to inspect the interior of your home. This will allow you to spot problems under the sink, behind the dresser, in the basement, and in the attic.
- Walls and Ceiling: Dark spots can indicate mold due to poor ventilation. Brown rings indicate a water leak from a broken pipe or roof problem.
- Backsplash and Countertop : Look for space between the backsplash and counter near the sink. This can cause water to drain behind cabinets or sinks.
- Bath environment : damaged grout and cracked tiles are points of entry for water into the walls. Feel the tiles around the tub or sink as this may indicate an ongoing problem.
- Bathroom Sealant : Check the condition of the sealant around the tub, shower and sink. If it deteriorates, water can get onto the sub-floor or walls.
- Service Panel : Signs of rust inside the service panel indicate water is leaking into the panel. This can cause a short circuit and be very dangerous. Burn marks are a sign that a problem definitely exists. Dirty connections and exposed connections Call an electrician immediately.
- Stairs and Railings : Indoor stairs and railings must be strong underfoot and in your hands. Look under the stairs for rot and damage to the wood. In older homes, the railings can be too wide, which can be dangerous for young children.
- Interior paint : Wall surfaces must be clean and smooth. Vertical cracks in the paint can indicate drywall delamination. Homes built before 1978 may also have lead paint, which requires special maintenance during renovations.
- Attic : Check for stains in the roof structure, which are signs of water leakage. The entire surface of the attic floor should be insulated, including corners and vents.
- Subfloor : Lift the subfloor out of the basement using a screwdriver. It must be solid and durable. If it is soft or soft, the wood can rot. If it is rotten, try to determine if it is anything other than age.
- Basement : The basement should smell clean, with no hint of mold or mildew. Rust on objects that touch the floor will indicate previous flooding or moisture seepage into the floor.
- Water pipes : All plumbing must be protected against corrosion. Rust and discoloration are signs of water leakage.
- Household appliances . If there are household appliances in the house, check their working condition.
- Security Alarms : Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors should be in every bedroom and common areas.
Check systems
Turn on hot and cold water in each sink and look under the sink for leaks as the water flows. Check plumbing around toilets, washing machines, and water heaters for leaks.
Turn on the heating and cooling system and let it run for a few minutes. Listen for irregular sounds and check boilers, water heaters and air conditioners for loose pipes. You will need to go outside or into the basement to do this right.
The purpose of the whole house inspection is to find problem areas, as well as to get to know your home inside and out. This is the best way to determine what is normal and what may cause problems in the future.