Fl Keys home inspections and what to expect

Home inspections and what they should cover

1. Siding: Look for dents or buckling
2. Foundations: Look for cracks or water seepage
3. Exterior Brick: Look for cracked bricks or mortar pulling away from bricks
4. Insulation: Look for condition, adequate rating for climate (the higher the R value, the more effective the insulation is)
5. Doors and Windows: Look for loose or tight fits, condition of locks, condition of weatherstripping
6. Roof: Look for age, conditions of flashing, pooling water, buckled shingles, or loose gutters and downspouts
7. Ceilings, walls, and moldings. Look for loose pieces, dry wall that is pulling away.
8. Porch/Deck: Loose railings or step, rot
9. Electrical: Look for condition of fuse box/circuit breakers, number of outlets in each room.
10. Plumbing: Look for poor water pressure, banging pipes, rust spots or corrosion that indicate leaks, sufficient insulation
11. Water Heater: Look for age, size adequate for house, speed of recovery, energy rating.
12. Furnace/Air Conditioning: Look for age, energy rating. Furnaces are rated by annual fuel utilization efficiency; the higher the rating, the lower your fuel costs. However, other factors such as payback period and other operating costs, such as electricity to operate motors.
13. Garage: Look for exterior in good repair; condition of floor—cracks, stains, etc.; condition of door mechanism.
14. Basement: Look for water leakage, musty smell.
15. Attic: Look for adequate ventilation, water leaks from roof.
16. Septic Tanks (if applicable): Adequate absorption field capacity for the percolation rate in your area and the size of your family.
17. Driveways/Sidewalks: Look for cracks, heaving pavement, crumbling near edges, stains.
    Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine Online by permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® . Copyright 2003. All rights reserved
18. 
    Diane Corliss
    REALTOR®
    Coldwell Banker Schmitt
    29967 Overseas Hwy.
    Big Pine Key, FL 33043.
    Direct: 305-849-0934
    Office: 305-872-5285
    Fax: 305-872-4220
    Diane@ DianeCorliss.com
19. www.dianecorliss.com