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Property Inspection Checklist

4.8/5 with 426 votes
Table of Contents

Introduction

Our Property Inspection Checklist is designed to help you thoroughly assess both the interior and exterior of your property, ensuring it meets safety standards and is well-maintained. This checklist covers everything from structural integrity to aesthetic details, making it an essential tool for homeowners, real estate agents, and property managers alike. Click Save to customize your checklist in our app, allowing you to sync tasks across devices and collaborate with others seamlessly, keeping all your inspection needs organized and accessible.
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Toggle Property exterior - structural safety status

Property exterior - structural safety

Toggle Foundation status

Foundation

If the foundation cracked or wet or the structure is leaning badly, serious foundation damage may have occurred. Have a foundation repair specialist check it out.
Toggle Roof status

Roof

The roof should be in good repair, with flashing intact and no missing shingles. Have a roofer inspect it if there are signs of water damage or leaks.
Toggle Deck/porch status

Deck/porch

Inspect the supporting beams for sign of rot or insect damage. Flooring should be even and properly nailed or screwed down. Railing should be intact.
Toggle Property exterior - maintenance status

Property exterior - maintenance

Toggle Trees status

Trees

All limbs should be trimmed away from power lines and away from structures. Limbs overhanging buildings may require the services of a professional tree trimmer.
Toggle Siding status

Siding

If wooden, check for signs of damage or need for painting. If manufactured, check for cracks or missing pieces.
Toggle Doors and windows status

Doors and windows

These should be watertight, with weather-stripping and caulking redone within the last year. Broken glass should be replaced.
Toggle Property exterior - appearance status

Property exterior - appearance

Toggle Lawn status

Lawn

If the lawn is unkempt or in poor condition, a landscaping or lawn care service my be required to get it back in shape.
Toggle Paint status

Paint

If buildings show signs of severe weathering, a new coat of paint may be in order.
Toggle Fencing status

Fencing

Fencing should be intact and posts should be in firm footing. Missing slats or rotted posts should be replaced by a professional fencing company.
Toggle Property interior - structural status

Property interior - structural

Toggle Ceiling status

Ceiling

Any sagging sections should be checked out immediately. Water spots are a sign that integrity has been compromised.
Toggle Floors status

Floors

Places that give way when you step on them indicate a professional flooring contractor be contacted to determine if the damage is foundation or insect related.
Toggle Support beams status

Support beams

Doorways should be square - sticking doors may indicate a foundation shift that should be looked into. Load-bearing walls should not be creaked or buckled.
Toggle Insulation status

Insulation

Ask for proof that the building contains no asbestos, and ensure that there is sufficient insulation to prevent undue energy loss.
Toggle Property interior - maintenance status

Property interior - maintenance

Toggle Plumbing status

Plumbing

Have a plumber do a quick check of all pipes to ensure they are up to code and that there are no leaks. Check water pressure and hot water heater.
Toggle Electrical status

Electrical

Watch out for outlets with signs of scorching. Locate the breaker box and determine which breakers control which rooms.
Toggle Floors status

Floors

Carpets should be in good condition, call a professional cleaner if needed. Wood floors may require sanding and refinishing.
Toggle Windows status

Windows

Blinds should be in working condition. Draped may require professional cleaning.
Toggle Fixtures status

Fixtures

Check all hanging and indirect lighting as well as ceiling fans.
Toggle HVAC status

HVAC

Have heating and air conditioning units checked out and serviced by a professional.
Toggle Fireplace status

Fireplace

Call a chimney sweep if needed to clean the flue, remove creosote and ensure your fireplace is safe to use.
Toggle Property interior - appearance status

Property interior - appearance

Toggle Walls status

Walls

Consider having professional house-painters spruce up walls in rooms that show signs of dinginess or stains.
Toggle Cabinets/counters status

Cabinets/counters

Rotted or outdated fixtures should be replaced. Cabinet doors can be sanded and repainted or stained.
Toggle Doors status

Doors

Any peeling paint indicates a need to sand and repaint doors. Check doorknobs and replace if needed. Remember to check for deadbolts on the exterior doors.
Toggle Pests status

Pests

Look in nooks and crannies checking for insects or vermin. Call a pest control company if needed to spray or place bait.

Download or Print this Property Inspection Checklist

Get a printable version of this checklist in your preferred format: PDF, Word, Excel, or print directly from your browser.

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Presented by:

Nicole Nichols-West

Nicole Nichols-West
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Tags

BusinessPersonalReal EstateInspectionMaintenance

Details

Tips

Inspections should cover several key areas; structural safety, maintenance, and appearance. If it is a rental property, agreements should already be in place about what duties and tasks are the responsibility of the owner, and what upkeep should be attended to by the leaseholder.

If ownership of the property is being transferred, there may be issues that will have to be addressed, with the seller and buyer coming to an agreement about who is responsible for what. In some cases, the selling price of the property may be adjusted to allow for repairs or renovations. Both the interior and the exterior of all structures on the property as well as the land surrounding it should be inspected to save unhappy surprises down the road.

Knowing what you are getting into can have an impact on decision making, particularly when budgets are tight as taking on a dilapidated property can end up being a costly investment. Some areas may have features native to the area, or implements in place to deal with severe weather. Check local building codes if you are unsure if the property is safe. Certain portions of the property inspection are best handled by professionals, so don’t hesitate to employ a specialist if you see something that looks dangerous or not up to code.

Who it's for

This Property Inspection Checklist is for teams that want consistent execution, less rework, and clear ownership.

  • Standardize quality - run the same Property Inspection steps every time, regardless of who executes
  • Save time - reuse a proven Property Inspection workflow instead of rebuilding processes from scratch
  • Improve accountability - assign owners and see what's done vs. what's pending
  • Onboard faster - use the Property Inspection checklist as the SOP and training guide
  • Coordinate across roles - handoffs are clear and everyone works from the same source of truth

How to use it

How to use this Property Inspection Checklist:

  1. Start by saving it - save as a Template if you'll reuse it, or as a Checklist if it's a one-off project.
  2. Customize it once for your workflow - remove what doesn't apply and add your team-specific steps.
  3. Assign ownership and execute - set owners/due dates where needed and track completion as work happens.
  4. Reuse without rebuilding - when Property Inspection comes up again, start from your saved version and run it with clear ownership.

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