What does a home inspection cover?

A full inspection looks at the roof, foundation, structure, plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling, insulation, drainage, and signs of pests or water damage. The inspector reports on condition and safety but usually won't open walls or guarantee anything. It's a snapshot of what's visible on the day.

Can I inspect a house myself before hiring an inspector?

Yes, and it's smart — a walk-through with this checklist helps you rule out obvious problems and decide whether a place is worth a paid inspection. But for anything structural, electrical, or hidden, hire a licensed inspector. This list makes you a sharper client, not a substitute for one.

What are the biggest red flags in a house inspection?

The costly ones are foundation movement, a roof at the end of its life, outdated or unsafe electrical, major plumbing problems, and persistent water in the basement or crawl space. Pests like termites and hidden mould also rank high. Any of these should shape your offer or your decision to walk away.

House Inspection Checklist

A house can look perfect and still hide an aging roof, a damp basement, or wiring that needs replacing. This checklist walks the whole property — structure, systems, and the usual trouble spots — so you know what you're dealing with and what to ask a professional about. It's a sharper walk-through, not a replacement for a licensed inspector. See more real estate checklists.

Curated by the Gisti team · Updated July 2026

House Inspection Checklist · 16 items

Check the roof for missing, curling, or patched shingles and note its rough age
A roof near the end of its life is one of the biggest single costs you can inherit — ask when it was last replaced.
Check the gutters and downspouts for sagging, leaks, and where they drain
Water pooling against the house is behind many foundation and basement problems.
Walk the foundation and exterior walls, looking for cracks, bulging, or crumbling
Hairline cracks are normal; wide, horizontal, or stair-step cracks deserve a specialist's look.
Run the taps, showers, and flush the toilets in every bathroom, watching pressure and drainage
Slow drains, running toilets, and stains under sinks all hint at plumbing you'll pay for.
Open the electrical panel and check for labelled breakers, scorch marks, and enough capacity
Old fuse boxes, aluminium wiring, and no ground can be expensive and a safety issue.
Test the heating and cooling, and ask when the HVAC was last serviced and the filter changed
Look for pest signs — droppings, gnaw marks, mud tubes, sawdust — in the attic, basement, and corners
Mud tubes on a foundation wall are a classic sign of termites.
Check the attic insulation depth and look for daylight, stains, or mould under the roof
Inspect the basement or crawl space for damp, efflorescence, and a musty smell
A dehumidifier running hard or fresh paint on the lower walls can be hiding a moisture problem.
Open and close the garage door and test its auto-reverse safety
Check that windows and doors open, close, and lock, and look for fogging between double-glazed panes
Look under sinks and around the water heater for leaks, corrosion, and its age
Most water heaters last 8-12 years; note the manufacture date on the label.
Test a sample of outlets and switches, plus the GFCI outlets in kitchens and bathrooms
Walk the boundaries and compare fences and structures against the property lines
Fences and sheds don't always sit on the legal boundary — the survey is what counts.
Check for even floors and doors that latch; a door that won't close can signal settling
Hire a licensed inspector for anything structural, electrical, or you can't safely reach
This checklist helps you spot issues and ask better questions — it doesn't replace a professional inspection.

Make it yours in Gisti

Open this checklist in Gisti to tick items off, add your own, set reminders, and keep it in sync across Android and the web. AI can tailor every item to your exact situation.

Open Gisti