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House viewing checklist

Fifteen quick checks for a 30-minute viewing. Tick as you go, take photos, and compare homes on the same list afterwards.

Home

Checks

1. Ceilings and wallsWater stains, fresh paint in one patch, cracks above doors and windows.
2. Under the sinksLook and touch: damp wood, drips, swollen cabinet floors.
3. Water pressure and hot waterRun the shower and a tap together; note how long hot water takes.
4. Toilets and drainsFlush each toilet; watch that sinks and tubs drain quickly.
5. Heating and coolingAsk the age of the furnace or heat pump and the AC; turn each on briefly.
6. Water heaterFind the label with the year; note rust or water on the floor around it.
7. ElectricalLook at the panel; test a few outlets with a phone charger.
8. Windows and doorsOpen and close several; feel for drafts; check locks.
9. Floors and foundationSloping floors, sticking doors, cracks in the basement or garage slab.
10. Smell and dampnessMusty basement or crawlspace, strong air fresheners, visible mold.
11. Roof and guttersFrom outside: missing shingles, sagging lines, gutters pulling away.
12. Cell signal and internetCheck bars in every room; ask which internet providers serve the street.
13. Noise and lightTraffic, neighbors, trains; which rooms get sun and when.
14. Storage and parkingClosets, garage, driveway or street parking rules.
15. What staysAsk which appliances and fixtures convey with the sale, and for the disclosures and HOA documents.

Notes