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Purchasing a home is never a piece of cake. However, if you are sure of what you need in your new property, then finding the one that fits well with you and your family becomes slightly more comfortable. While there are many aspects of a real estate that might interest you to make the final call, there can be various elements that might put you off of it as well.
So, how should one go about the turmoil of making the right choice? Well, when looking for homes, having a detailed and practical home inspection Dallas checklist in your pocket can save you plenty of time and money. A thorough inspection is an essential process if you are willing to unveil the underlying faults which aren’t visible to the naked eye.
That being said, we bring you a solution-based checklist that will solve your purpose and save you the hassle of heartbreak and pocket drainage in the future as well. Read on!
Key places to consider for inspection
- Foundation/ structure of the building
- Roof
- Flooring
- Plumbing and other water systems
- Electrical systems
- HVAC systems
- Basement
- Attic
- Porch
- Walls
- Doors and windows
- Ceiling
What to look out for?
Foundation/ structure and the exterior condition of the building
- Cracks in the visible structure
- Signs of standing water
- Peeling off paint
- Water stains on the external wall
- The shape of the doors and the windows
- Chips and cracks in the windowpane
- Smooth movement of the window doors
- Signs of mold on the exterior surfaces
- Condition of the cladding
Roof
- Broken or cracked shingles
- Scope for the escape of heating
- Leakage in the roof
- Clogged or unkept gutters
- Broken gutters
- Presence of bird nests on the chimneys
- Damaged bricks of the chimney
Flooring
- Chipping or breaking of the wooden or tiled floors
- Bubbling in the wood panels
- Stains on the flooring
- Do the floors need minor repairs or complete replacements?
Basement and Attic
- Evidence of leakage of heating and cooling in the attic
- Signs of moisture in the basement
- Condition of air ventilation in the attic
- Rodent damage in the basement
- Signs of cracks and stucco damage in the basement
Plumbing and other water systems
- Leakages in the bathroom and kitchen
- Rusted pipes
- Broken or malfunctioning faucets
- Problems with the toilet flush
- Condition of the water pump
Electrical systems
- Condition of the electrical fuse panel
- Naked wires
- Old wiring
- Presence of GFIC
- Signs of overheating- blackening of the sockets
- Condition of the appliances
HVAC systems
- Do the heating and cooling system work properly?
- Check adequate heating and cooling in all the rooms
- Signs of leakage in the pipes
- Condition of the air filters and when were they last replaced
- Signs of rust on the cooling system
- Condition of the ducts
Porch
- Broken or chipped decks
- Poorly kept decks- discoloration
- Weak stair railings
- Mold on the stairs
Walls
- Cracks in the walls
- Water stains
- Peeling of the paint
- Are there any chances that the walls might allow the entrance of radon in the home?
Pro tip- Many buyers do not bother sparing a few minutes for reading the inspection report. Do not make that mistake as all the observations and advice from the home inspector are mentioned in it. Before you discuss it with the seller, go through the report extensively to have better arguments ready.
As we mentioned above, purchasing a home is never easy, but with this checklist by your side, you will able to weigh in all the pros and cons of a particular property with ease. Use this home inspection checklist to your advantage and never settle for anything less. Good luck!
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