Home evaluation guide for buyers and sellers
Rigney Home Inspections Home
Page: Rigney Home Inspections
This checklist
is not complete as some systems can be hazardous. It will help you evaluate
your real estate prior to having a Home and Structural Pest inspection WDO
report. It is not intended to replace a comprehensive home or Structural Pest
Inspection by a qualified licensed inspector.
Make sure that
filters are clear in air conditioners, heaters, vents, drains, etc. Clear out
areas under sinks so they can be inspected.
Make sure the inspector can
access all areas of the house. Clear all
furniture, boxes, clothes, toys and other personal items that may block access
to the furnace, water heater, electrical panels, attic crawl spaces, etc.
Inspectors will not enter inaccessible areas.
This list describes an ideal house. (No house is perfect.)
Grounds
____
Proper rain drainage away from house to include gutter downspout water.
____ No evidence
of standing water
____ Yard,
landscaping, trees and paths in good condition
____ No
vegetation touching house or roof
____ Exterior
structures (sheds, decks, retaining walls, detached garages) in good condition.
____ Railings
steps, stairs are adequate and secure
____ Driveways,
sidewalks, patios, stoops in good condition and sloping away from structure or
have proper drainage, such as a driveway sloping down to a basement garage.
Exterior Surfaces
____ Shingles
and siding: no cracking, curling and decay.
____ Brick
veneer: no cracks in joints, no broken or flaking bricks
____ Stucco: no
large cracks mold.
____ Vinyl
siding: no broken, creaked, bowing or loose pieces.
____ Exterior
paint or stain: no chalking, flaking or blisters
____ No stains
on exterior surfaces
____ All windows, doors, trim and siding caulked well.
____ Chimneys:
straight, properly flashed, no evidence of damaged bricks or cracked joints,
all mortar and cap in good condition.
Windows, Doors and Wood Trim
____ Wood frames
and trim pieces are secure, no open cracks or decay.
____
No broken glass or damaged screens, no broken seals on double-pane insulated
glass.
____ Glazing compound in good condition
____ Drip cap
installed
Roof
____ Composition
shingles: no moss, curling, loss of granulation, damaged or missing.
____ Wood
shingles or shakes: no moss, curling, damaged, or missing.
____ Flat roof:
no obvious patches, no cracks or splits, minimal blisters and wrinkles.
____ Flashing around roof penetrations in good condition
____ Soffits,
fascia and rafters: no decay, no stains.
____ Exterior venting for area under roof: soffit vents and ridge
vents are adequate, vents are clean.
____ Gutters: no
decay, joints sealed, attached securely to structure, no bending or sagging, no
sections of gutter or downspout missing and gutters clean.
Attic
____ No stains
on underside of roofing, especially around roof penetrations
____ No evidence
of decay or damage to structure
____ Adequate insulation and all vent ducting to outside.
____ No plumbing
exhaust or appliance vents terminating in attic
____ No open
electrical splices
Interior Rooms
____ Floors,
walls and ceilings appear in satisfactory condition.
____ No stains
on floors, walls or ceilings
____ No
significant cracks in walls or ceilings
____ Windows and
exterior doors operate easily and latch properly, no broken glass, no sashes
painted shut, no decay; windows and doors have weather stripping
____ Interior
doors operate easily and latch properly, no damage, no broken hardware
____ Wood trim
in good condition
____ Lights and
switches operate properly
____ Electrical
outlets and GFCI test properly
____ Heating source in each habitable room
____ Fireplace
no cracking or damaged masonry, no evidence of smoke, damper operates properly,
flue has been cleaned, flue is lined
Kitchen
____ Working
exhaust fan
____ GFCI
protection for electrical outlets near sink
____ Dishwasher:
drains properly, no leaks and vented properly.
____ No leaks in
pipes under sinks
____ Floor in
cabinet under sink solid, no stains or decay
____ Water flow
in sink adequate
____ No
excessive rust on garbage disposal
____ Appliances
operate properly
____ Cabinets in
good condition: doors and drawers operate properly
Bathrooms
____ Working
exhaust fan or window that opens
____ Adequate flow and pressure in all fixtures
____ Sink, tub
and shower drain properly
____ Plumbing,
cabinet, floor and under sink in good condition
____ If sink is metal, it shows no signs of rust
____ Toilet
operates properly
____ Toilet
stable, no rocking, no stains around base
____ Caulking in good condition inside tub and shower area
____ Tub or
shower tiles secure, wall surface solid
____ No stains
around base of bathtub or shower
Miscellaneous
____ Smoke
detectors where required
____ Stairway
treads and riser’s solid
____ Stair rails
where needed, and in good condition
____ Automatic
garage door opener operates properly, stops properly for obstacles
Basement
____ No evidence
of moisture
____ Bedrooms
have proper fire escapes
____
Etc.
Plumbing
____ Visible pipes: no evidence of leaks and no signs of stains
on materials near pipes.
____ Water
heater: no signs of rust, vented properly to outside,
____ Galvanized
pipes do not appear to restrict water flow
____
Proper water pressure between 40 and 75 lbs.
____
Etc.
Electrical
____ Visible wiring: in good condition, no exposed splices, cables
secured and protected, cover plates on J-boxes plugs and switches.
____ No open
grounds, wrong polarity.
____ Is the service panel grounded properly.
____ Is there a main breaker or is there more than six throws to
shut down all power to the home.
____ Any aluminum wire in the panel. Are there antioxidants on
the aluminum wiring?
____ Any visible knob and tube in the home.
____ Any oxidizing or moisture in the panel past or present.
____
Etc.
Heating/Cooling System
____ Appears to operate well throughout
____ Flues: no
open seams, slopes up to outside
____ No rust
around cooling unit
____ No
combustion gas odor
____ Air filter
clean
____ Ductwork in
good condition
____ Other heating systems working properly, such as baseboard
____
Etc.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Structural
Rigney Pest
Control License # 378 since 1977
www.rigneypestcontrol.us
This checklist
will help evaluate structures prior to having a structural pest inspection. It
is not intended to replace a comprehensive inspection by a qualified licensed structural pest inspector.
WDO Findings
____ Adequately ventilated, at least one vent within three to
four feet of corner of foundation for cross ventilation.
____ Vents are
screened with ¼ inch galvanized hardware cloth.
____ Vents below
grade have vent wells.
____ Vent frames
in good condition
____ Insulation
between crawl space and heated areas is installed with vapor barrier towards
heated area.
____ Crawl space
access below grade has a crawl space access well installed.
____ Crawl space
access door and frame is in good condition and no earth wood contact.
____ Basement
windows below grade have wells installed and no earth wood contact.
____ Basement
window framing and sills are in good condition.
____
No earth-to-siding/wood contact by six inches.
____
No asphalt-to-siding contact.
____ Siding has
no soft, swollen or buckled areas and has proper sealing of over-driven nails
and the drip edge along the bottom of the composite products has at least 2 mils
of a high-quality, exterior grade 100% acrylic paint.
____ Sub crawl
space areas are accessible for inspection with at least 18” earth to joist and
12” earth to beams.
____ No evidence
of previous or existing standing water in the sub-area crawl space.
____ No wooden
plumbing supports noted in sub-area crawl space.
____ No plumbing
leak in sub-area crawl space.
____ Clothes
dryer exhaust is venting to outside.
____
No loose and/or fallen substructure insulation in sub-area crawl space.
____ No foundation
footing form boards or cellulose debris such as wood scraps, paper, and
cardboard are present in the sub-area
____
No evidence of wood destroying insect.
____
No evidence of wood decay fungus or wood destroying insect damage in sub-area
crawl space.
____
Polyethylene 6 mil vapor barrier over the soil of the crawl space providing
full coverage.
____ No
wood-soil contact exists on the support post(s) in the sub-area crawl space or
exterior.
____ No earth
wood outside decking/porch materials.
____ Kitchen,
bathroom, laundryroom flooring in good condition no moisture damage, proper
calking etc.
____ Under sinks have no moisture damage or plumbing leaks.
____
Etc.
Sheds,
outbuildings, roofs and attic areas are not included in a structural pest
inspection report.
To order a Home Inspection or Pest
Inspection Click here: Inspection Request Form
Price Click Here: Inspection Price List
Tacoma: (253)
474-3515
Fax: Toll-Free
(866) 658-0160