Home Inspection List
Whether you’re touring a house you might buy or checking your own home before a season changes, a structured list keeps you from missing the important things. Work through each area, mark what you find and add notes; the list totals up repairs and items to watch, and prints a tidy report to take to your inspector, agent or contractor.
Home inspection checklist
Home Inspection Checklist Pack
Printable room-by-room home inspection checklist, an Excel repair tracker with your own cost estimates, a seasonal maintenance calendar and questions to ask the seller and inspector.
- Printable checklist (PDF/DOCX)
- Repair tracker (XLSX)
- Maintenance calendar (PDF)
- Questions list (PDF/DOCX)
Formats: PDF, DOCX, XLSX. Instant download after payment (link valid 72 hours, up to 5 downloads). AI-assisted: the templates were drafted with AI help and reviewed and laid out by Kedop.
$3.00 USD, one-time
Secure card checkout by Stripe. Full refund within 7 days — see the refund policy and license.
What the checklist covers
| Area | Items | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior and grounds | 8 | Ground slopes away from the foundation; Gutters and downspouts attached, clear and discharging away from the house |
| Roof | 5 | Shingles or covering flat, not curling, cracked or missing; Flashing around chimney, vents and skylights intact |
| Foundation and structure | 5 | No large or widening cracks in foundation walls; No signs of water entry, efflorescence or tide marks |
| Plumbing | 6 | Good water pressure at several fixtures at once; No leaks under sinks or around toilets |
| Electrical | 6 | Panel accessible; breakers labelled; No scorch marks, buzzing or warm covers |
| Heating and cooling | 5 | System starts and heats/cools; Filter clean; service records available |
| Interior | 6 | Walls and ceilings free of water stains; Windows open, close and lock |
| Kitchen | 5 | Appliances operate; Range hood vents properly |
| Bathrooms | 5 | Toilets flush and don’t rock; Tub and shower caulk and grout intact |
| Attic | 5 | Insulation depth adequate and evenly spread; No daylight through roof deck or signs of leaks |
| Garage and safety | 5 | Garage door auto-reverse works; Fire-rated door between garage and house (where required) |
Altogether 61 items, grouped the way most inspectors work through a house: outside first, then the structure and systems, then room by room. Mark each item OK, Monitor, Repair or N/A, set a priority for anything that needs attention and add notes as you go.
A walkthrough is not a professional inspection
This list helps you look carefully and ask better questions, but it does not replace a qualified home inspector, who has training, tools and — in many places — a licence, and who may spot problems a buyer cannot see. Specialist issues such as structural movement, electrical faults, gas leaks, mould, radon, asbestos, lead paint, sewer lines or pests need the right professional. Never open electrical panels, climb onto roofs or enter unsafe crawlspaces yourself.
How to use it when buying
- Take the list to viewings to compare homes consistently.
- Note anything unusual — stains, cracks, smells, sticking doors — for the inspector.
- Book a professional inspection before your contingency deadline.
- Bring your printed notes to the inspection and ask about each item.
- Use the “Repair” list with your agent when negotiating repairs or credits.
- Get quotes from licensed contractors for major items before closing.
Signs worth a closer look
- Water stains on ceilings or around windows
- Musty smells in basements or crawlspaces
- Diagonal cracks above doors and windows, or cracks wider than a coin
- Soft, springy floors near bathrooms
- Scorch marks, warm outlets or flickering lights
- Very old roof, water heater or heating system without service records
- Fresh paint in just one spot — ask what it covers
Worked example
A buyer touring 12 Maple Street works through the list on a phone. Most items are OK, but they mark “Repair — high priority” for a downspout discharging against the foundation with a damp patch inside, “Monitor” for a 14-year-old water heater and “Repair — medium” for a bathroom fan that vents into the attic. The report prints the three items first, sorted by priority, followed by the full list. The buyer gives the report to their inspector, who confirms the moisture problem, and uses it to negotiate a repair credit.
Typical lifespans to ask about
| Component | Why age matters |
|---|---|
| Roof covering | Asphalt shingles near the end of their life may need replacing soon after you buy |
| Water heater | Tank heaters are usually replaced after many years of service; check the label date |
| Furnace, boiler or heat pump | Older systems may be less efficient and harder to service |
| Air conditioner | Older units may use refrigerants that are expensive to service |
| Windows and doors | Failed seals show as fogging between panes |
| Decks | Rot at posts and ledger boards is a safety issue |
Ask the seller for installation dates and service records; the inspector can often estimate age from labels and condition. Lifespans vary with climate, quality and maintenance, so use them as prompts for questions rather than predictions.
After the inspection
- Read the full report, not just the summary.
- Separate safety issues, major repairs and routine maintenance.
- Get written quotes from licensed contractors for anything expensive.
- Decide with your agent whether to ask for repairs, a price reduction or a credit.
- Keep the report — it becomes your first maintenance list as a new owner.
Seasonal checks for homeowners
| Season | Focus |
|---|---|
| Spring | Roof and gutters after winter, drainage, exterior paint and caulk, air conditioning service |
| Summer | Decks and railings, pests, attic ventilation |
| Autumn | Gutters after leaf fall, heating service, chimney, weatherstripping |
| Winter | Ice dams, frozen pipe risk, smoke and CO alarms, humidity and condensation |
Privacy
Your notes stay in your browser. Print or download the CSV to keep them.
Frequently asked questions
What should I look for in a home inspection?
Water problems, structure, roof, electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling, and safety items.
Can I do my own home inspection?
You can do a careful walkthrough, but a qualified inspector should inspect before you buy.
How long does a home inspection take?
Often two to four hours for a typical house, depending on size and condition.
What is the difference between Monitor and Repair?
Monitor means keep an eye on it; Repair means it needs fixing.
Can I export the list?
Yes — download a CSV or print the report.
Are my notes saved?
No. They stay on this page; print or export to keep them.
Should I attend the professional inspection?
Yes, if you can — you can ask questions and see issues first-hand.
What are the most expensive problems to find?
Foundation and structural issues, roof replacement, water damage and outdated electrical or plumbing systems are often the costliest.
Does a new house need an inspection?
Many buyers still inspect new builds; issues can be missed during construction.