A professional home inspection covers the major systems and structural components of a property: foundation, roof, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, exterior, and interior. The inspector examines each area for current deficiencies and signs of future problems. This checklist mirrors the categories a licensed inspector will evaluate, giving you a structured way to record findings and severity ratings as the inspection happens.

Red flags to watch for include foundation cracks wider than a quarter inch, active water intrusion or staining in the basement, a roof nearing the end of its lifespan, outdated electrical panels (such as Federal Pacific or Zinsco), and HVAC systems older than 15-20 years. Any item marked "Safety Issue" should be addressed before closing, while "Repair" items are strong candidates for negotiating seller credits or price reductions. "Monitor" items are not urgent but should be tracked for maintenance.

Use the severity buttons to rate each item as you walk through the property, and add notes for context. The summary panel at the top aggregates your flagged items by priority, making it easy to hand a concise list to your agent for repair negotiations. You can also print or export the summary for your records.