Free printable home inspection checklists

8 field checklists covering 93 items, written for working inspectors. Read them here, or print the page and take it with you. No email, no sign-up, no download.

The checklists, in the order you walk a house

Before You Arrive

The prep that prevents a return visit. Most wasted trips trace back to something on this list.

Signed inspection agreement on file before the appointment
Scope confirmed in writing — what is included, what is excluded
Utilities confirmed on: water, gas, electric
Access confirmed to attic, crawlspace, electrical panel, garage, and any locked rooms
Occupancy status and pets confirmed with the listing agent
Client and agent told the arrival time and who is attending
Seller disclosure or prior report reviewed if one was provided
Camera, phone, and moisture meter charged
Ladder, flashlight, GFCI tester, gas detector, and screwdrivers packed
Coveralls, gloves, and respirator packed for crawlspace and attic

Roof & Exterior

Start outside and work down. Grading and drainage explain more basement complaints than anything else.

Roof covering: missing, curled, cracked, or patched material
Flashing at valleys, chimneys, walls, and every penetration
Gutters and downspouts secure, clear, and discharging away from the foundation
Fascia, soffit, and eaves: rot, pest damage, missing or blocked vents
Chimney crown, cap, mortar joints, flashing, and clearance to combustibles
Skylight seals and flashing
Siding or cladding: damage, open gaps, failed caulk, contact with grade
Windows and doors: frame condition, glazing, seals, weep holes, operation
Grading slopes away from the foundation on all sides
Walkways, driveway, and steps: settlement, trip hazards
Decks and porches: ledger attachment and flashing, guard height, baluster spacing, footings
Exterior receptacles: GFCI protection and in-use weatherproof covers

Structure, Foundation & Basement

Record crack width, direction, and displacement. A photo without a measurement is hard to defend later.

Foundation walls: crack width, direction, and any displacement
Evidence of settlement, movement, or bowing walls
Crawlspace: vapor barrier, standing water, ventilation, debris
Sill plate and rim joist: rot, pest damage, anchorage
Floor joists, beams, and posts: sagging, over-notching, drilled or cut members
Support columns: proper bearing, corrosion, temporary supports left in permanent service
Basement: moisture staining, efflorescence, active seepage
Sump pump present, operating, with a discharge that leads away from the house
Framing modifications under stairs and around openings
Signs of wood-destroying organisms — note if reporting on them is outside your scope

Plumbing

Run fixtures together before you judge pressure. A single tap tells you almost nothing.

Main water shutoff located, accessible, and operable
Supply piping material: copper, PEX, CPVC, galvanized, or polybutylene
Pressure and flow with several fixtures running at once
Visible leaks at supply lines, traps, and shutoff valves
Drain, waste, and vent piping: material, slope, improper connections
Water heater age, capacity, and data plate recorded
TPR valve and discharge pipe: material, termination, no threaded end
Water heater venting, combustion air, and strapping where required
Fixtures: sinks, tubs, showers, and toilets for operation, secure mounting, and caulk
Functional drainage at every fixture
Hose bibbs: backflow prevention and freeze protection
Fuel gas piping: sediment traps, corrosion, unsupported runs
Well or septic present — note if evaluation is outside your scope

Electrical

The panel is where the money is. Photograph the label and the dead front before you touch anything.

Service entrance: overhead clearances or underground condition
Service size, voltage, and main disconnect location recorded
Panel: legible labeling, cover and dead front secure, no open knockouts
Breakers: double-taps, oversized breakers, wrong-manufacturer breakers
Aluminum branch wiring, knob and tube, or unsupported and exposed wiring
Grounding electrode and bonding at the panel and water piping
GFCI protection: kitchen, bathrooms, garage, exterior, basement, laundry
AFCI protection where required
Receptacles tested for reverse polarity, open ground, and loose connections
Junction boxes covered and accessible
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms: present, correctly located, within service life
Ceiling fans and fixtures secure and on the correct box

Heating & Cooling

Record the data plate before the equipment gets covered up again. Age drives most of the conversation.

Heating equipment: type, fuel, data plate, approximate age
Accessible heat exchanger surfaces for rust or cracking — state your limitations
Combustion venting: material, slope, clearances, evidence of backdrafting
Cooling equipment: type, approximate age, refrigerant line insulation
Temperature differential across supply and return measured and recorded
Filter size, condition, and whether it can actually be reached
Ductwork: disconnected runs, insulation, sealing, support
Thermostat operation in both heating and cooling
Combustion air supply and clearance to combustibles
Condensate drain, secondary pan, and float switch
A supply register in each habitable room
Service tags or maintenance history if present

Interior, Attic & Ventilation

Exhaust fans that dump into an attic are common, cheap to fix, and easy to miss from below.

Ceilings, walls, and floors: stains, cracks, damage
Windows: operation, failed seals, and egress size in every bedroom
Doors: operation, hardware, and a self-closing rated door from garage to house
Stairs: consistent rise and run, handrail, guard height, baluster spacing
Attic access, insulation type, and approximate depth
Attic ventilation: soffit, ridge, and gable vents; baffles not blocked
Bath and kitchen exhaust terminates outside, not into the attic
Dryer vent: rigid material, length, lint accumulation, exterior termination
Roof leak evidence visible from inside the attic
Garage: firewall separation, door auto-reverse, photo eyes at correct height
Fireplace: damper, firebox, hearth extension, clearances
Moisture readings taken at every suspect area

Before You Send the Report

Callbacks usually come from an unclear report, not a missed defect. This list is where you prevent them.

Every defect has a photo, a location, and a plain-language explanation of why it matters
Summary and body agree — nothing appears in one and is missing from the other
Recommendations name a trade, not just "repair"
Safety items are clearly flagged and separated from maintenance items
No jargon a first-time buyer would have to look up
Inaccessible areas documented with the reason they were not inspected
Anything not evaluated because utilities were off is stated explicitly
Property details correct: address, date, weather, occupancy
Photos in focus, correctly oriented, and captioned
Template placeholders and spelling checked
Delivered inside the turnaround you promised
Agreement and invoice attached or linked

From checklist to finished report

These checklists cover what to look at on site. These pages cover what happens to those findings afterwards.

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