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Home Inspection Checklist: What to Check Before You Buy

A practical home inspection checklist for buyers. What a home inspector looks at, the red flags that matter most, and the questions to ask before you close on a house.

2 min read

A home inspection is your best chance to understand what you're really buying — and to build your first maintenance plan before you even get the keys. A professional inspector does the formal report, but knowing what they look at helps you ask better questions and spot deal-breakers early.

This is a buyer's orientation, not a substitute for a licensed inspection. Use it to walk a home with a sharper eye.

The big-ticket systems (where money lives)

Problems here are the most expensive, so they matter most to your offer and your budget.

  • Roof. How old is it? Look for curling, missing, or patched shingles and sagging. A roof near the end of its life is a major negotiating point. See roof & gutters.
  • Foundation & grading. Look for stair-step cracks, doors that won't close square, and ground that slopes toward the house. Water management problems are among the costliest to fix. See exterior.
  • Electrical panel & wiring. Note the panel's age and brand; certain older panels are known hazards. Ask about aluminum wiring in homes from the 1960s–70s. See electrical and our older-home guide.
  • HVAC. Ask the age of the furnace and AC. Systems past ~15 years are nearing replacement. See HVAC.
  • Water heater. Check its age (often on the serial number) and look for corrosion or moisture at the base. See water heater.
  • Plumbing. Note pipe materials, water pressure, and any stains under sinks or on ceilings. See plumbing.

The safety checks

  • Smoke and CO alarms present and not expired. See smoke & CO.
  • GFCI outlets near water (kitchens, baths, exterior). See our GFCI definition.
  • Proper venting for the dryer, water heater, and furnace.

The quiet red flags

These are easy to miss but tell you a lot:

  • Fresh paint in one isolated spot — sometimes hides a water stain.
  • Musty smells or warped flooring — possible past water intrusion.
  • DIY work that looks "off" — unpermitted electrical or plumbing can be both unsafe and a future expense.
  • No visible main water shutoff or one that's seized — you'll want this working from day one. See main water shutoff.

Turn the inspection into your first maintenance plan

Everything the inspector flags as "monitor" or "maintain" (rather than "repair now") becomes your starting maintenance list. The day you close, you'll already know the age of your roof, HVAC, and water heater — exactly the inputs that drive a smart maintenance schedule.

That's the bridge into ownership: feed those details into Owner Tools and get a personalized, month-by-month plan for your specific home — free, no address required. Then work through your first 30 days.

Frequently asked questions

What should I check during a home inspection?+
Focus on the expensive systems and safety: the roof, foundation and grading, electrical panel and wiring, plumbing and water heater, HVAC, and signs of water damage. These are where problems are most costly and most likely to affect your offer.
What are red flags in a home inspection?+
Major red flags include foundation cracks and poor grading, an aging or hazardous electrical panel, roof at the end of its life, signs of past or active water intrusion, an old HVAC system or water heater, and evidence of DIY work that skipped permits.
Should I attend the home inspection?+
Yes, if you can. Walking through with the inspector lets you see issues firsthand, learn where the shutoffs and systems are, and ask questions — knowledge that becomes your first maintenance to-do list after closing.

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