What Do Home Inspectors Look For?

How to use this guide

Use this resource to prepare observations and questions, not to approve or reject a property by itself. Record locations, patterns, odors, sounds, dates, and seller disclosures so a qualified professional has useful context.

Start with safety and active water concerns, then review structure, exterior drainage, roof, electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling, interiors, and installed appliances.

Practical checklist

• Site drainage, exterior surfaces, roof coverings, flashing, and visible structural components.
• Electrical service and distribution, representative fixtures and receptacles, and visible safety concerns.
• Plumbing supply, drainage, fixtures, water heating, and visible leakage.
• Heating, cooling, ventilation, insulation, interiors, and accessible attic or crawl-space areas.
• Installed components that are included in the agreement and safely operable at the time.

Questions worth asking

• Which standard of practice and local licensing rules apply?
• Will the roof, attic, crawl space, panel, and heating or cooling equipment be accessed?
• Are sewer scope, radon, termites, mold, asbestos, lead, chimney, pool, septic, and well services separate?
• How are unsafe or inaccessible components reported?
• Can you attend and ask questions after the inspector completes each area?

Turn observations into decisions

Separate urgent safety issues from maintenance items and cosmetic defects. Ask for written scope, assumptions, exclusions, and price ranges from the appropriate professional. Your contract, contingency deadlines, local law, and risk tolerance determine what happens next.