Home Inspection Checklist, System by System

A home inspection checklist keeps a walkthrough systematic: every system gets looked at in the same order, every finding gets recorded against the item it belongs to, and nothing relies on memory. This one follows the system list both the InterNACHI and ASHI standards of practice require a US home inspection to cover — so it works as a study aid for new inspectors, a client-explainer for agents, and a working document for anyone inspecting today. Prefer a printable version? The same structure is available as a free home inspection checklist PDF.

Roof

• Covering material, age, and visible condition of each slope
• Flashing at penetrations, valleys, and walls
• Gutters and downspouts — attachment, slope, discharge
• Chimneys, vents, and skylights
• Signs of leaks, patching, sagging, or storm damage

Exterior and grounds

• Grading and drainage — water should move away from the foundation
• Wall cladding, trim, and paint condition
• Windows and exterior doors — glazing, seals, operation
• Decks, balconies, steps, railings, and their attachment
• Driveways, walkways, and retaining walls affecting the dwelling

Structure and foundation

• Foundation type and visible cracks, movement, or moisture
• Floor structure — framing, posts, beams where accessible
• Wall and ceiling lines — bowing, sagging, separation
• Crawlspace or basement conditions, access permitting

Plumbing

• Supply and drain pipe materials and visible condition
• Water heater — age, capacity, TPR valve, venting, leaks
• Functional flow and drainage at fixtures
• Visible leaks under sinks, around toilets, at shut-offs
• Sump pumps and fuel storage/distribution where present

Electrical

• Service entrance, size, and grounding
• Panel — brand, breakers or fuses, workmanship, clearance
• Wiring methods visible in unfinished spaces
• A representative sample of outlets, switches, and fixtures
• GFCI/AFCI protection where required; smoke and CO alarms

Heating and cooling (HVAC)

• System type, approximate age, and energy source
• Operation using normal controls — heat and, weather permitting, cooling
• Distribution — ducts, registers, radiators in each room
• Visible condition of air handler, condenser, and filters

Interior, insulation, and ventilation

• Walls, ceilings, floors — damage, stains, cracks
• A representative sample of doors and windows in operation
• Stairs and railings — geometry and attachment
• Attic insulation level and distribution, where accessible
• Ventilation of attic, kitchen, baths, and laundry
• Built-in appliances operated using normal controls

How inspectors actually use a checklist

The checklist is the skeleton; the report is the deliverable. In practice that means working one system at a time, photographing every finding as you go, and tying each photo to the checklist item it documents — so the write-up afterwards is assembly, not archaeology. Both major standards also require reporting what you did not inspect and why (blocked access, unsafe conditions, weather), so a good checklist records exclusions, not just defects.

A paper or PDF checklist handles the structure. Where it gets slow is the photo-matching and the retyping. InspectPro Solo is designed to help with exactly that step: its 30+ built-in inspection areas mirror this system list with item-by-item checklists, each photo is tagged to the item and severity as you shoot it, and the branded PDF report is generated on-site from what you have already captured. The free checklist PDF and a free InspectPro trial are both no-commitment ways to try each approach on your next inspection.