Essential Home Maintenance Inspection Checklist

Essential Home Maintenance Inspection Checklist

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

• Check condition and adequate rating for climate

Doors and Windows

• Inspect for loose or tight fits
• Check condition of locks and weather stripping

Roof

• Note age and condition of flashing
• Check for pooling water, buckled shingles, or loose gutters and downspouts

Ceilings, Walls, and Moldings

• Look for loose pieces or drywall pulling away

Porch/Deck

• Inspect for loose railings, steps, or rot

Electrical Systems

• Assess condition of fuse box/circuit breakers
• Verify number of outlets in each room

Plumbing

• Check for poor water pressure, banging pipes, rust, or corrosion
• Ensure sufficient insulation

Water Heater

• Note age, size adequacy, recovery speed, and energy rating

Furnace/Air Conditioning

• Check age and energy rating
• Evaluate annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) for furnaces

Garage

• Inspect exterior repair status
• Check floor for cracks, stains, and door mechanism condition

Basement

• Look for water leakage or musty smells

Attic

• Ensure adequate ventilation and check for roof leaks

Septic Tanks (if applicable)

• Confirm absorption field capacity matches percolation rate and family size

Driveways/Sidewalks

• Look for cracks, heaving pavement, crumbling edges, or stains