Are you looking to save time and money on future costly home repairs?
One of the best things you can do to prevent costly repairs is to inspect your home on a regular basis. But, you need to make sure you’re inspecting your home the right way.
How do you do that?
Check out this DIY home inspection guide to learn how to conduct your very own home inspection.
Exterior DIY Home Inspection
Let’s start by talking about what you should inspect on the exterior of your home:
Chimney
When it comes to inspecting the exterior of your home, we suggest starting at the top and working your way down. Climb onto your roof and make sure your chimney is straight and not missing any bricks or mortar.
Also, make sure you check the tightness of the flashing. This is the sheet of metal that prevents the point where the chimney and roof meet from leaking.
Roof
After inspecting your chimney, it’s time to check out your roof. The type of inspection you do will depend on the material of your roof.
In general, though, you should make sure that your roof isn’t sinking or curling, and that there isn’t any mold or rot. If you have a shingled roof, you should make sure there aren’t any shingles missing.
If there are, make sure to replace them immediately. If your roof is in really bad condition, then you may need to replace it entirely. You can check out this guide to learn how to know when to replace your roof.
Additionally, you should be checking asphalt roofing for alligatoring, blistering, or curling shingles. Wooden roofs should be checked for rotting and splits and flat roofs for holes, and tile and slate roofs for broken pieces.
You should also check for moss and other debris on your roof.
Gutters
Another important area to inspect on the outside of your home is your gutters. You want to make sure your gutters are rust-free, clean, and properly attached to your house.
You also want to make sure there isn’t any bending or sagging in the middle of the gutters. Most importantly, make sure your gutters are directing water away from your home.
Windows and Doors
When scoping out your windows and doors, the first thing you want to check for are tears or wear to the weatherstripping.
You also want to look for cracks on the window glaze as well as other signs of wear on the windows, such as peeling paint. We also suggest opening and closing your windows a couple of times each to make sure there aren’t any sticky points.
You should also scope out the weep holes in the window sill to make sure that they haven’t been caulked over, as this can affect drainage.
Garage
Another very important area of your home to inspect is your garage. We suggest opening and closing your garage a couple of times and listening for any squeaks or loud noises.
You should also look for cracks in the door as well as dents in the tracks. Additionally, make sure there aren’t any tripping hazards created by rakes or shovels.
Water and Septic
To inspect your water and septic, we suggest getting a sample of your well water and sending it out to your county cooperative extension. They’ll be able to test it for unhealthy chemicals and bacteria.
You should also make sure that the well cover is sealed tightly. You can check the sump pump by pouring water into it and making sure that it turns on automatically. Additionally, you should check around the septic tank for overly lush vegetation/moss as this may be a sign that the tank is full or failing.
Foundation
Last but not least, make sure you check your home’s foundation. Check your home from the side and make sure there isn’t any sagging or leaning.
Make sure that all framing is straight and that the fascia and roof ridge are level.
Interior DIY Home Inspection
After inspecting the exterior of your home, here’s what you need to do to inspect the interior.
Attic
It’s very important to check your attic for decay or water stains as this could indicate that there’s a leak in the roof.
It’s a good idea to inspect your attic during the daytime with the lights off. This way, you can easily spot holes in the roofing that are letting light in.
You should also check for signs of animal activity, and you should check your insulation for dampness or tears.
Bedroom
In the bedrooms, you want to make sure that all walls, ceilings, and floors are level and stain-free. Make sure all the windows and doors open and close easily, and make sure that your paint and wall coverings are in good shape.
You also want to make sure that all of your electrical outlets are in proper working order.
Bathrooms
Make sure all of your toilets and sinks are functioning properly and that all of your fixtures are attached securely.
Additionally, you should check for rot and water stains under your vanity tops.
Kitchen
In your kitchen, you want to make sure your pipes don’t have any leaks or rot. Make sure all of your appliances are operating smoothly, and check to make sure that all cabinets and drawers open and close properly.
You should also check your oven door gasket for signs of wear and tear, and make sure that you’ve recently changed out your water filters.
Are You Ready to Perform Your DIY Home Inspection?
With this checklist, you should be more than ready to perform your DIY home inspection. Whether you’re selling your home or planning to live there for another 50 years, performing a DIY home inspection is a good idea.
Be sure to check back in with our blog for more home improvement tips and tricks.
