How to do a home inspection yourself?

I was planning to buy a resale property and was planning to do a home inspection before the purchase. It would assist me in identifying warning signs early on, such as leaks, cracks, or defective wiring, before they become expensive surprises. So if you want to know how to do a home inspection yourself checklist, I can help you with the same.

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How to Do Your Own Home Inspection?

Here is the checklist that I have prepared for a DIY home inspection:

1. Roof & Gutters: I should look for water pools, corrosion, or cracked roofing.

2. Exterior Walls: I should look for indications of water damage, mould, or cracks.

3. Windows & Doors: Should open and close each one to test for alignment, drafts, or broken seals.

4. Plumbing: I should run all taps, check water pressure, and inspect under sinks for any leaks.

5. Electrical System: Test light switches, outlets, and check the fuse box.

6. Floors & Ceilings: I must look for sagging, cracks, or water stains.

7. HVAC System: I should switch on, replace filters, and listen for strange noises.

8. Safety Devices: Finally, if the property has safety devices installed, I should test smoke alarms and check the expiry date on fire extinguishers.

I am planning to follow this checklist before buying a home. I am open to suggestions. Let me know in the comments if you have any pointers that I can add up in this list. Thanks in advance!

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How much does it Cost to get a Home Inspection?

My brother in law, an NRI, was planning to sell off his house in Ireland when he decided to see a home inspector. But one of his friends suggested that he should first do the home inspection himself. He didn’t know how to do it so the friend was kind enough to let him in on a few tips. When I read your question, I immediately thought, I should ask him. Here’s what he told me.

Before calling a home inspector, my brother-in-law was advised to carry out an inspection just like a buyer would. He was asked to look around for any or all the faults he could see and enlist them. Some of the things he mentioned are important to focus on, here is a list for you to follow.

1. Condition of walls, ceiling, flooring and roofing

A do it yourself home inspection calls for a thorough check for water damage, moulding or any other serious problems. Usually these kinds of damages are found around the area where the pipeline lies. I would suggest you check for any damage in the bathroom, kitchen, roof and ceiling area which is attached to overhead water tanks or adjoining walls of kitchen and bathroom.

• Condition of electrical system and circuits

You can check the condition of electrical systems and circuits next. My brother in law told me that apart from switching the lights on and off, one should also make sure that everything is wired correctly.

• Condition of plumbing in the property

Your house value will be highly affected by poor plumbing. When he was inspecting his house, he realised that the pipes were too old and there was a good chance of leakages within the next few months. He took note of it and checked if the water pressure, and drains worked fine.

1. Condition of the basement (if any) and foundation

This is a tricky one. You can’t really check for foundation or basement problems without any expertise. There are a few indicators that can help you find the problems in your property foundation. Look for drywall cracks or see if your doors and windows don't latch properly. If that is the case, then my friend there are major foundation issues.  

As far as I know, these are the things you should take care of while doing the home inspection yourself. I hope things work out for you well.