Home Inspection Checklist for Buyers
Read a few days before your inspection; bring the checklist with you.
A home inspection is the one chance you get to have a professional walk the house with you before you own it. Buyers who prepare get far more out of the same appointment.
Scope, licensing and what a report must contain vary by state and by inspector, so confirm specifics with the professional you hire. This guide covers how to prepare and how to use the time.
Before the inspection
What a general inspection typically covers
Scope varies, but a general home inspection is usually a visual, non-invasive examination of accessible components.
- Roof surface and drainage, where safely accessible.
- Exterior cladding, grading, walkways and attached structures.
- Foundation and visible structural components.
- Plumbing supply, drainage and the water heater.
- Electrical service, panel, and a sampling of devices.
- Heating and cooling equipment operated in normal mode.
- Attic, insulation and ventilation where accessible.
- Interior: floors, walls, ceilings, windows, doors, stairs.
- Installed appliances, depending on the inspector.
What is often excluded
These are frequently separate services. Availability and pricing vary by market.
- Sewer lateral scoping and septic system evaluation.
- Radon, mold, asbestos, lead and other environmental testing.
- Wood-destroying organism inspections in some regions.
- Chimney and fireplace level-two inspections.
- Pools, spas and irrigation, unless specifically added.
- Anything not visible or safely accessible on the day.
Your own list to hand over
Everything you noticed during showings belongs here, described concretely.
Attending the inspection
- Arrive for the final portion at minimum; the verbal walkthrough is where the nuance lives.
- Follow, watch and ask — but do not slow the inspector down mid-task.
- Ask them to show you the water shutoff, the panel and the furnace filter.
- Ask which findings are safety items, which are urgent, and which are maintenance.
- Take your own photos of anything they point out.
- Ask what they would want to know more about if it were their purchase.
Reading the report
Reports are long by design. Sort the findings before you react to the volume.
- Safety issues and active leaks first.
- Then items with a near-term cost or a service-life problem.
- Then deferred maintenance you can schedule.
- Then cosmetic notes, which are informational.
- Note every recommendation for a further specialist evaluation — those are open questions, not conclusions.
Common mistakes
- Not attending, and trying to understand the house from a PDF.
- Treating the report's page count as a measure of how bad the house is.
- Ignoring 'recommend further evaluation' lines.
- Skipping specialist inspections the inspector explicitly suggested.
- Forgetting to ask about the things you noticed yourself at the showing.
Frequently asked questions
Should I attend my home inspection?
If the inspector allows it, attending — especially for the summary walkthrough — is usually the most valuable hour you spend on the house.
Does a home inspection cover everything?
No. General inspections are typically visual and non-invasive, and several common concerns such as sewer lines, septic systems and environmental testing are usually separate services.
How long does a home inspection take?
It depends on the size, age and condition of the home and the inspector's process. Ask when you book so you can plan to attend.
Who chooses the home inspector?
As the buyer, you normally hire your own inspector. You can ask for referrals, but check credentials and sample reports yourself.