How to Inspect Your Real Estate Property Yourself

You can inspect your own real estate property. It’s easy and since you already have an idea of the things you need to look for, it should also be simple. If you’ve lived in your home for any length of time, finding problems and repairing them now, will save you headaches and more money at a later date. Besides, a little elbow grease and a few days is all it should take to check your home over and fix whatever minor problems you find. And since it’s your home, the quality of your work will probably be much better than someone you hire. This is your home and only you will benefit from how these problems are fixed. Owning a home is a big step for most of us. It’s probably the biggest investment we’ll ever make. So you want to make sure your home has the best care you can afford to give it, and if you inspect your own real estate property, you can ensure that level of care. Below is a list of 50 things you can inspect for yourself. To make it simple, the list was divided into two sections. There are 25 items to check inside your home and 25 items to check outside your home.

Items To Check Inside:

1. Ceilings and Walls -check for water marks and signs of leaking and possibly mold growth.
2. Floors- if floors are wood, check for soft spots or squeaking.
4. Outlets – make sure all the outlets are in working condition.
5. Thermostat – make sure its working and actually controls the a/c and heat.
6. Stairs- check for stability and squeaks.
7. Fireplace – look at the hearth for burn marks, stains, cracks and loose tile.
8. Windows – check inside seals and chalking, also check for dry rot, and termites.
9. Garbage Disposal – check for leaks round the pipes.
10. Dish Washer – check the seal for tightness and for leaks.
11. Cabinets – look under kitchen and bathroom cabinets for water leaks, mildew and mold.
12. Closets – look for dampness, musky smells or water marks along ceiling and baseboard.
13. Doors – make sure your doors are level and not warped.
14. Doors – check seals to doors leading outside and check for ease of opening and warpage.
15. Toilet – look for leaks and chalking around the bowl, look for worn plumbing inside bowl.
16. Sink and Bathtub – check for leaks, clogs, chalking and mildew.
17. Faucets – check for loose handles.
18. Bathroom Tile – look for cracks, looseness, chalking and grout.
19. Hot Water Heater – check for leaks and corrosion around pipes.
20. Attic – check for missing, improperly placed or damp insulation.
21. Washer/Dryer- look for leaks, check dryer vent and filter for built up lint.
22. Garage – check floor for oil stains and cracks, also check for peeling paint, rust and age.
23. Door Handles – check for looseness of handles, knobs and locks.
24. Smoke Detectors – check battery, also do a smoke test.
25. Fire Extinguisher – check date on canister and replace if necessary.

Checking the outside of your house is just as important as checking the inside. I generally check the outside of my home every 3 months. Mainly because I live in Florida and the heat and moisture can bring about all sorts of things on your real estate property, from insects to algae to peeling and cracking.

And of course, the older the house, the more problems you may run into, but in the time being, here are some common sense things you can look for and take care of yourself.

Items To Check Outside:

1. Levelness of the house – one side of the house may be lower than the other side.
2. Siding – check for holes, cracks, crumbling and algae in the stucco, bricks or siding.
3. Painting – check for faded, peeling, chipped paint. Find out when the house was last painted
4. Window Frames – look for dry rot, peeling paint, cracks, and warpage.
5. Chimney – check for cracks, holes, crumbling and missing chimney caps.
6. Shutters – check for looseness, peeling paint, dry rot, missing slats.
7. Screens – look for tears, cuts, loose and dirty screens.
8. Eaves and Gutters – look for bent, cracked or missing eaves and blocked, unsecured gutters.
9. Entrance Canopy – look for peeling and cracked paint, mildew, mold and insect nests.
10. Garage Door – check the bottom seal to make sure it keeps water out.
11. A/C Unit – look for leaves, standing water and algae, also check drainage tube for clogs.
12. Drive Way – check for cracks and evidence of root invasion.
13. Outlets – make sure the outlets work and the outside lighting works.
14. Trees – look for invading roots and dead branches over power lines leading to the house.
15. Yard – check for ant hills or evidence of moles and other insects that can damage your lawn.
16. Flower Beds – make sure your flower beds are clean, weeded, and free of debris
17. Patio/Deck – look for cracks, peeling paint, faded wood, loose boards and dry rot.
18. Fence – check for sturdiness, peeling and chipping paint and missing planks.
19. Swimming Pool – check and empty skimmer and pump baskets, check for debris.
20. Mail Box – make sure it’s sturdy and the door closes, also look for rust and insect nest.
21. House Numbers – make sure they’re right side up and legible from the street.
22. Doorbell – check for cracks and breaks, also make sure it works.
23. Faucets – make sure they have handles and can turn on easily, also check for drips and leaks.
24. Sprinklers – look for missing, corroded, clogged and broken sprinkler heads.
25. Roof – stand back and give it a glance for missing or algae encrusted tiles.

As I said, it’s really easy to inspect your own real estate property. All it takes is a little time and a little patience. These two lists are just some of things you can self-inspect in and around your home. So many of us get caught up in the excitement of buying a house, that we tend to forget to look for potential problems that may cost us extra money in the future. This expenditure can be eliminated or at the most lessened, by paying attention to what you’re looking at.

When you spot problems in these areas, take care of them immediately. There is nothing that a little chalking, painting, sealing, cleaning with bleach and power washing won’t take care of. It will also save you money on hiring someone to come out later and there is no sense in paying someone for what you can do yourself.

If the problems have already past the point where you can’t take care of them, then don’t hesitate to call someone qualified to fix it. If you can’t get to an area to see what’s really going on, like the roof, the attic or crawl space, then please call a professional who can advise you.