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Home Inspection Checklist

 

Attending a home inspection can sometimes be overwhelming. You may be instantly struck by the stunning interior, or the amount of backyard space on offer, but before you imagine yourself signing the dotted line on your rental agreement or jumping for joy at the auction, you need to scope out the entire property.

There are particular areas of every property that requires your attention. So, here are some of the main items that should be on your home inspection checklist.

 

  1. Check for water stains and mould

Look for any signs of corrosion, mould or water leaks – especially near the showers and baths. While this is not a structural defect, it can be costly to repair in the future. It’s important to note that mould can exist in any room, so check bedrooms, the kitchen and living spaces as well.

 

  1. Look inside wet area cabinets

When you are checking out the wet areas, be sure to look inside all cabinets in the bathrooms or laundry. Smell for damp, mould or mildew – all indications of a water leak or rising damp.

 

  1. Assess ceilings

Check to see if any of the ceilings in the property are sagging or have a parachute appearance. You can do this by shining a torch across the ceilings (your mobile phone torch will do). This will show up all deflections and defects in the ceiling sheets.

 

  1. Look for cracks in the walls

The internal and external walls need to be checked for any large cracks. If the property has a large number of cracks greater than 2.0mm in width, then this is of concern and needs to be further inspected by a qualified building inspector. You should also be looking for fine cracks on the wall plastering inside the property. If you find some, there are likely to be more, so keep an eye out.

 

  1. Inspect roof downpipes

Have a wander around the external perimeter of the house and check that all roof downpipes are discharging into stormwater soak wells and not just onto the ground. Also look for any signs of past flooding or excess water flow. Installing stormwater soak wells on an established property can prove very costly, as paving, concrete and garden beds may need to be excavated to install the drains – so make sure this is definitely ticked off the list.

 

Learn More from InStyle Property Management

If you would like to know more about home inspections and what you need to look out for, speak with our team. At InStyle Property Management we can offer expert advice and assistance.

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