If you are considering buying a new or used manufactured home, use a home inspection checklist manufactured or hire a home inspector so you have a good understanding of the condition of the home you are buying. Home inspection checklists are a useful resource for verifying the condition of the interior and exterior of the property; including plumbing, electrical, heating and structural integrity.

Bathrooms

New homes should have showers, bathtubs and basins that are scratch-free. Door screens should be properly sealed and doors should slide easily. Check that the cabinet doors are straight and the drawers open properly.

Electrical

The best way to check the electrical components is after the structure phase. Check the wiring for the roof seems to be installed correctly. Light switches and output boxes must be firmly attached to the uprights and straight. Once the plaster over, control luminaires to see that they are all installed and functional.

Exterior

Verify that the dryer vane the dryer is installed with a cover. Check that a vapor barrier has been installed under the house. Determine if the heat conduit crossover has bends or kinks. The base must be of the right color and well secured. Check the wrap of the belly by keeping the insulation below the house to see that it is tear-free.

Steps should all be properly installed with the right materials. Verify the correct number of outside taps are installed and operating. Look for damaged or missing shingles. Houses of many sections must have a properly installed marriage line. Verify that there is a water pipe latch installed. Look for properly installed channels.

Heating and Cooling

Check that the air conditioning or swamp and working cooler is installed. Heating ventilation should be installed and functional. Make sure that the appropriate size water heater is installed and connected. Br the water heater is running, especially in old houses.

Kitchen

New homes should be checked to see that the orderly countertops are their own color and style and are level. Verify that cabinets hang properly. New appliances should be the right models, installed and working. Soil must be checked for cuts and proper installation. Check the water pressure and temperature in the faucets. Look for cuts on counter tops and damage to cabinets in old homes.

Windows

All windows must be installed and operational. Old houses should be checked for cracked or broken windows.

Other considerations

Prefabricated homes often have worn floor and carpets that can be a major cost factor. Appliances, water heaters, air conditioning and marsh coolers can be beyond their usefulness.

Home inspections in new homes often reveal what seem like simple or sloppy mistakes. Checking to make sure everything is installed and done properly can save you time and trouble on the road if it is a new or used home.

You should start preparing for a professional inspection when you initially tour the home, before making an offer. This will give you an idea if there are any areas you want the inspector to pay special attention to. A good inspector will address these issues in the report you pay for. Use this checklist to help figure out what to look for ahead of time and in the final report. If any of these items aren’t covered in the inspection report, ask why not.

Foundation: Look at the base of the walls and the ceilings in each room. Are there obvious cracks or apparent shifts in the foundation? Do the same around the outside. Are there any trees encroaching on the foundation?

Lot: Does the drainage appear to be away from the house? Are there any obvious soggy areas?

Roof: What is the overall condition? When it was last replaced?

Exterior: Does the house look like it will need repairs or repainting soon? Are gutters and downspouts firmly attached? Are there loose boards or dangling wires? Is there asbestos in the exterior material, which would require added costs if it needed to be repaired or replaced?

The attic: How does the interior of the roof structure look? Are there any signs of leaks?

Interior evidence of leaks: Check ceilings and around windows in each room.

Basement: Is there dampness? Adequate insulation? (If there’s a crawlspace instead of a basement, you might want to leave this for the professional home inspection.)

Electrical: Do the switches work? Are there any obvious malfunctions? Have the outlets been grounded? Is the panel updated and expandable for additional appliances or a potential remodel?

Plumbing: Any unusual noises or malfunctions? Has the sewer line been scoped to check for potential cracks?

Appliances: If these are included, what is the age and condition of the stove, dishwasher or refrigerator?

Heating/cooling system: Does it seem to do the job? How old is the furnace? If the system has been converted, are the old systems or tanks still in place?

Odor: Does the home smell? Can you detect what it might be and whether it could be fixed? Beware of musty odors which could signal a wet basement.

Full disclosure

In addition to your own eyes, ears and nose, you should get a seller’s disclosure statement before your inspection. Use the statement to help you pinpoint anything you want your inspector to look at. If they disclosed that they had a leaky window replaced or repaired, make sure that gets some extra attention from your inspector.

Disclosure requirements vary by state and sometimes local jurisdictions, so ask your real estate agent if you have any questions about what is included. Disclosure typically comes in the form of boilerplate documents with a series of yes/no questions for the seller to detail their home and their experience there.

One thing to look for is whether any unpermitted work has been done. If so, you could be on the hook for bringing the house up to code should you ever remodel? Even if that’s not even remotely on your radar, unpermitted work needs to be carefully inspected, particularly electrical and plumbing work.

Inspectors aren’t perfect

What happens if your inspection comes back clean but you find problems after you move in? It depends. First, the inspection will only cover things they can see. They aren’t tearing out walls and don’t have x-ray vision so problems that are truly hidden aren’t really their fault. (Unless they missed what should have been obvious signs of a potential hidden problem.)

Look carefully at your contract. Will they pay for repairs of things they should have caught but didn’t? Or will they only refund your inspection fee? The bottom line is that you may end up taking them to court if it’s a big enough deal. So a leaky faucet? That’s just the joy of homeownership. A structural failure that leads to the home being condemned? Probably worth talking with a lawyer. But you should also understand that things happen. This is part of being a homeowner. An inspector can’t forecast the future. Sometimes stuff happens.

Inspections

House are made when a home is sold and potential buyers want to check to see if the house has any flaws, including problems with mold, plumbing, ventilation or foundation. An inspector has a checklist that goes through every house they visit this checklist covers the vital statistics of the home, regardless of aesthetic aspects, such as small appliances, carpets or decorations.

Exterior

The exterior of the inspection includes a check of the roadway and sidewalks to see if they have cracks, topography, exterior drains and Episcopalism. UN inspector will also determine if the drains and sewers are well built. She will make sure that the fences and other outdoor features, such as a garage or pool, are solid. An inspection of the deck to see if it has leaks is also on the list.

Basement inspections

Basement are critical. The inspector should verify that the house is well ventilated and that it is free of excess moisture and mold. Mold can be a serious problem as it can because health problems for all occupants, particularly susceptible individuals Inspectors also check cracks in foundations and walls.

Air system

An inspector checks the air system of the house to see if the ventilation systems are working, if the air ducts are intact and not blocked and if the heating and air conditioning works. Will be checked if the furnace is in working condition and whether it has been kept clean.

Plumbing

A home inspector inspects the plumbing of the house to see if it is working properly, or if any of the pipes need to be repaired. She checks for cracks, dripping or condensation from the pipes, and if the pipes are well insulated. She will run all the faucets in the house to see if the water is running and drain properly.

Electricity

The inspector checks to make sure that the electrical system in the home is working. It inspects all outlets to see if they work properly. Also check to make sure the switches are the right size for the cable and that they have no corrosion. Also check the main power cables to make sure they are clean and in good condition.

Bedrooms

The inspector checks every room in the house to see if there are cracks in the walls or floors. She checks the cabinets and appliances for any damage. She inspects the windows of the house to see if they are well insulated and if they open and close.

Much has been written about the value that housing inspection provides. For a buyer, it is a safety net, a realistic assessment of the condition of a property and an assessment of deficiencies. While it is not your basic function, a home inspection can serve as a catalyst for a renegotiated purchase and a sale agreement.

Such renegotiations may result in repairs being undertaken by the owner, a reduced sale price or the recall of the offer by the buyer if they are seriously damaged.

Increasingly, buyers are conducting home inspections before purchasing a property. Buyers often look for that realistic valuation made by a third party in order to confirm that their choice is sound or to shed light on what kind of future repairs may be required. Although inspectors do not recommend to the buyer whether or not they should buy, their findings carry considerable influence.

Historically, inspections have been made at the request of the homeowner. However, consider the situation of the seller. He (or she), has, also, much at stake in the transaction.

A sale that is not realized can be disastrous for the seller too! He may have bought a new house, depending on the sale of an existing property. Without the funds of the present sale, the new purchase may not go ahead. No one wins when a transaction does not go forward.

A home inspection report with negative findings may surprise both sellers and the buyer. The seller may genuinely believe that the property is in good condition. However, unknown conditions – termites – for example, can alter that assessment.

Good insurance for salespeople

Sales agent’s homebuyer or lawyers generally recommend an inspection. In this case, what is good for the buyer, is also good for the seller. Because surprises are equally detrimental to the seller, he must obtain a “pre-sale inspection”.

Although the inspection prepared for a seller cannot replace a buyer’s inspection, it nevertheless serves a useful purpose. It alerts the seller of the potential conditions that may affect or delay the sale.

People who live in a house become accustomed to the property and may not see conditions as deficits, things that a potential buyer can see. For example, a 22 year old oven can still work wonderfully, but statistically, you will need a replacement within five years. That is an expense of $ 1,000 to $ 2,500 dollars that the buyer may not have anticipated.

A professional housing inspector is trained to warn you what most people are not trained to see. An inspector serves as a detective, looking for existing or potential problems. Without any interest in the sale of the property, the purpose of a home inspector’s diagnostic report is to allow the seller to determine what needs repair before posting a “for sale” notice.