Drainage |
Yes |
No |
1. Is
there dampness under the house? |
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2. Are
there footprints or ribbed patterns in the dirt under the house
indicating when it rains, water creeps in? |
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3. Is
there mold (black or green) on wood under the house indicating heavy
moisture? |
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4. Does
the ground outside slope away from the house? (If it slopes into the
house, you may have serious problems.) |
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Foundation |
Yes |
No |
1. Do
you see cracks in the foundation when you walk around the exterior of
the house? (Hairline cracks almost always occur and should be
disregarded.) |
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2. Are
the cracks wider at the top than at the bottom? (This indicates actual
breakage, a serious problem if the top of the break is a quarter inch or
more.) |
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3.Is
there an actual separation in the foundation? (This indicates not enough
steel reinforcement was used when the foundation was poured.) |
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4. In a
slab house, does the floor feel uneven when you walk over it indicating
cracks hidden under carpet or tile? |
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5.
Under the house, do any of the girders sag? This indicates that the
foundation has slipped. |
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Roof |
Yes |
No |
Wood
Shake Roofs |
Yes |
No |
1. Are
there pieces of the roof lying on the ground around the house? (This is
an obvious bad sign.) |
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2.
Using binoculars, can you see missing shingles anywhere on the roof? |
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3. Are
there any signs of leakage in the ceiling or on walls inside the house? |
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Composition
Shingles |
Yes |
No |
1. Is
the color of the shingles good, or are they starting to fade (a sure
sign of wear)? |
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2. Are
the edges of the shingles curling up? (A sign of wear in hot climates.) |
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3. Are
there any bare spots on the roof? |
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4. Are
there any signs of leakage in the ceiling or on walls? |
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Aluminum
Shingles |
Yes |
No |
1. Are
there signs of the color fading or peeling? (The shingles may keep the
weather out, but will look terrible.) |
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2. Are
there any dents or separations in the shingles indicating someone has
walked on them? |
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3. Are
there any signs of leakage in the ceiling or on walls inside the house? |
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Tiles |
Yes |
No |
1. Are
any tiles broken? |
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2. Have
any fallen off? |
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3. Are
there any signs of leakage in the ceilings or on walls? |
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Paint |
Yes |
No |
Interior |
Yes |
No |
1. Are
there marks on the walls? |
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2. Is
the current paint in good condition? Flaking indicates it may have to be
sanded before new paint can be applied. |
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3. Are
the colors light? (Covering dark colors may require two or more new
coats.) |
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Exterior |
Yes |
No |
1. Is
the paint chipping or peeling? |
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2. Are
the colors faded? (This indicates aging paint.) |
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3. Is
the caulking around windows starting to fall out? |
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4. Is
the aluminum siding firm, not becoming detached? |
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5. Are
the gutters falling? Is the paint on them peeling? |
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Plumbing |
Yes |
No |
1. Is
the plumbing copper instead of galvanized steel? (Galvanized steel lasts
about 30 years, sometimes less - copper lasts virtually forever.) |
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2. Are
there leaks at the joints of galvanized pipes? (These are usually
visible under the house or in the garage; they indicate electrolytic
action may be corroding the pipes and may need to be replaced.) |
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3. Are
there leaks under the sinks in any of the bathrooms or in the kitchen? |
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4. Is
the water heater old? (The date is sometimes stamped on the label - a
water heater rarely lasts more than seven years.) |
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5. Does
the water heater have a safety valve? (This is vitally important. If
you're not sure what a safety valve is, have a professional check it
out.) |
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Wiring |
Yes |
No |
1. Do
switches or sockets spark when used? |
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2. Are
there inoperative lights or switches? |
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Heating |
Yes |
No |
1. Does
the flame in the furnace turn yellow and rise high above the burners? (A
bad sign indicating a ruptured combustion chamber.) |
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2. Do
you smell gas around the furnace? (A very bad sign - call the gas
company immediately.) |
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3. If
there is radiant heat or heating that requires plumbing, are there any
leaks? |
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Fireplace |
Yes |
No |
1. From
the outside, is the fireplace tight against the house, or can you see a
separation? (A separation is a big danger sign - have a professional
check it out.) |
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2. Are
there any visible cracks in the external bricks? |
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3. Are
there any cracks in the firebricks inside the fireplace? |
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Tile |
Yes |
No |
Are
there any cracks in the tile of the kitchen or bathrooms? (Cracks can be
caused simply by dropping something heavy on the tile or can be
symptomatic of the house movements and a cracked foundation.) |
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Termite
Report |
Yes |
No |
1. Is
there a termite report? |
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2. Are
you getting a termite clearance? |
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3. Will
the seller pay for all repair work? (Normally the buyer pays for any
preventive work. |
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Hazards |
Yes |
No |
1. Are
there asbestos ceilings? |
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2. Are
the pipes asbestos-wrapped? |
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3. Are
there leaded copper pipe joints? |
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4. Are
smoke alarms working? |
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5. Is
there proper insulation? |
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