Residential subject inspection checklist

[Sliverbill66]

Hello all. I was wondering if any of you have an inspection checklist/form you bring to every inspection to make sure you collect all data and just to make your life easier? I am thinking about making one and would appreciate any guidance. Thanks!!

 

[RCA]

1. Let's say it is a complicated, large, old house, like a 125 year old Victorian in San Francisco that has had numerous updates or. a 3500 sf 100+year old Craftsman up in the North Bay. Then I would probably go through then entire house with a GoPro and take a video of everything , each room 360 degrees - just in case I miss something in the photos. Same outside - try to get every thing.
2 Then I would go through the house floor by floor in. a consistent direction e.g. clockwise, taking photos. Use a flash always to bring out true colors. But a tripod helps too, to help get high res photo without blur. Ensure good photos of sinks, cabinets and below sinks. Engage in overkill taking photos of hallways and stairs - because they are connection points. (Same with measurements).
3. Exterior photos, Front, back and each side, as well as street - each direction. Photos of crawlspace and attic.
4. Drone for roof and side photos: Straight overhead, then 45% above the roof, back, front and sides. Especially older homes that have not been well maintained - get 2nd floor eaves, decks, etc..
5. Then I would do measurements exterior and then interior.
6. For FHA - you should have a checklist for what they need in addition to the above. Same for all FM and lender guideline issues.
7. Review inspection of Windows and Doors for signs of dry rot and or water leakage.
8. Look for signs of water problems and/or mold everywhere.

Checklists are good - except if you have a lot work to do, you need to be concerned with workflow and efficiency. You need a pattern of work that fits the house - and ordinary checklists are generally too rigid. But have a general purpose one and review it before you take off just to help make sure you didn't forget anything.

- And I am writing this late at night, strictly from memory. So, I probably missed something.

 

[Tom D]

get into a routine of doing it the same way each time. sometimes i get chatty with an owner, or rehaber, and i forget something. also, look at your photos again before you leave. i used to do a lot of FHA, so i do every appraisal like FHA except for the paint & hand rails. there is a FHA check list that is sold. it's found in the working r.e. magazine magazine. although, i am not as anal an inspector as rca, but that's a hell of an inspection. i do mostly big city little row homes, seen 1 seen 50,000.
FHA is anal about peeling paint, hand rail and some hazards. unlike me, just take your time, and look at everything the same way each time. rca anal is good. me bad.

 

[BRCJR]

Take the appropriate appraisal form with you, if not a narrative report, and use it as a guideline.

 

[Surf Cat]

I think I remember starting off with a checklist too. But the more and more inspections you do, you just get into a routine and you don't need the checklist anymore.

All of the aforementioned posts give you more than you to devise a good checklist.

To reiterate what RCA said above, take lots of photos. I'm not as particular as RCA in taking "high resolution" photos. As a matter of fact, I set my point and shoot camera to 5 megapixels. Just make sure you have your flash on and the photos are not blurry.

One more thing, read the engagement letter from the client. Different lenders have different wants and needs. For example, some lenders will want a photo of the water heater to make sure that it's strapped. Others won't. Some lenders want a photo as if you're standing on the porch looking across the street. Some lenders want photos of both sides of the subject in the report.... others just front and rear. Read the engagement letter before you go, it'll save you a lot of grief.

 

[Fernando]

I had checklist but never not used it. Not practical.
When at the property, I'm concern in what's wrong with the property (it's a habit).
I take lots of photos and usually check for garbage disposal because darn 1004 requires input on that.
Knowing neighborhood, I'm familiar with characteristics of the homes. If "ancient", I check for brick foundation.
And I take photos of CO alarm detector and double strapped water heater because most lenders are obsessed with those items.

 

[JTip]

 

[Tim Hicks (Texas)]

If you do mobile tablet inspections, you have checklist.

 

[J Grant]

Hello all. I was wondering if any of you have an inspection checklist/form you bring to every inspection to make sure you collect all data and just to make your life easier? I am thinking about making one and would appreciate any guidance. Thanks!!

I dont, I used to but found it got in the way- - it certainly would be easy to make one and print it out - customize to what you need.

 

[RCA]

I had checklist but never not used it. Not practical.
When at the property, I'm concern in what's wrong with the property (it's a habit).
I take lots of photos and usually check for garbage disposal because darn 1004 requires input on that.
Knowing neighborhood, I'm familiar with characteristics of the homes. If "ancient", I check for brick foundation.
And I take photos of CO alarm detector and double strapped water heater because most lenders are obsessed with those items.

That's what I forgot to add -- of course, of course, -- or you will have to go back out.