Home purchase inspections and closing

A buyer checklist for confirming the inspection-contingency deadline and property scope, selecting an inspector accountable to the buyer, checking licensing or registration where applicable, experience, insurance, sample reports and exclusions, understanding roof, crawlspace, sewer, pool, environmental and other specialist limitations, comparing agreement terms and fees, and booking early enough to obtain follow-up inspections before the contractual decision deadline.

A buyer inspection-day checklist for confirming access to utilities, panels, attic, crawlspace, roof and outbuildings, delivering disclosures and known concerns to the inspector, attending without obstructing the inspection, recording system locations and operating guidance, asking about significance and next steps rather than repair pricing alone, documenting inaccessible areas, identifying urgent safety or specialist follow-up and preserving enough contingency time for reports, estimates and written decisions.

A post-inspection buyer checklist for checking report completeness against the agreement and property, separating immediate safety and major system or structural concerns from maintenance and cosmetic items, resolving contradictions and inaccessible areas, obtaining specialist opinions where the general inspector reached a limit, linking findings to probable scope and timing, checking permits and disclosures, organizing questions for local advisers and making written contingency decisions before the contract deadline.

A buyer checklist for turning major inspection findings into comparable repair scopes and realistic ownership decisions, confirming whether diagnosis or design is needed before pricing, obtaining qualified independent estimates with access to the report and property, separating stabilization from permanent correction, including permits, demolition, concealed damage, restoration and testing, identifying uncertainty and allowances, checking timing and occupancy impacts and avoiding false precision before negotiating credits, repairs or purchase terms.

A buyer sewer-camera checklist for confirming ownership and responsibility for the building sewer or lateral, selecting a qualified independent operator, obtaining cleanout access and appropriate preparation, recording a continuous video with distance and orientation, identifying material, joints, roots, offsets, bellies, breaks, infiltration and connection condition, distinguishing observed defects from unsupported conclusions, locating significant findings and obtaining repair or further-evaluation scope before the inspection deadline.

A buyer and seller radon transaction checklist for reviewing prior results and building changes, selecting a qualified tester where required, choosing the lowest level that could be used regularly, following the real-estate test method and closed-house or device conditions, preventing and documenting interference, verifying device and laboratory records, interpreting the result with EPA and state guidance and arranging mitigation or further testing without describing a low result as zero risk.

A buyer roof-specialist checklist for resolving general-inspection limitations or material concerns, identifying roof-covering type and approximate installation history, evaluating accessible covering condition, flashings, penetrations, drainage, low-slope transitions, sheathing and attic evidence, distinguishing repairable defects from broader replacement risk, documenting unsafe or inaccessible areas, checking permits and warranties and obtaining a written scope with remaining-life limitations before the contingency deadline.

A buyer HVAC specialist checklist for resolving age, comfort, safety, fuel-burning, heat-pump, refrigerant, airflow or duct concerns beyond a general inspection, identifying equipment and matched-system data, checking accessible installation and service condition, combustion and venting where applicable, condensate, filters, controls, temperature response and distribution, reviewing maintenance and permit history, stating seasonal or access limitations and estimating repair, commissioning or replacement risk before the purchase decision.

A buyer pool and spa specialist checklist for identifying permits and equipment, evaluating accessible shell, deck, coping, drainage and barriers, operating pumps, filters, heaters, controls, lighting and sanitation within safe limits, checking visible leaks and structural movement, reviewing electrical bonding and safety devices through qualified inspection, documenting covers and entrapment-protection limitations, estimating immediate repairs and recurring operating obligations and confirming correction or shutdown needs before closing.

A buyer checklist for verifying seller-agreed repairs against the exact written agreement, confirming contractor identity, qualifications, permits, invoices, warranties and final approvals, inspecting the repaired location and related finishes, obtaining specialist reinspection or testing when the original defect required it, distinguishing completed permanent correction from concealment or temporary patching, documenting incomplete or changed work and using the contract’s notice and closing process with local advisers before accepting the repair.

A buyer final-walkthrough checklist for confirming the property remains in the agreed condition, seller possessions and debris are removed as required, included appliances and fixtures remain, utilities allow reasonable observation, agreed repairs are complete, no new water, storm, freeze, vandalism or moving damage has appeared, doors, windows, plumbing fixtures, HVAC controls and basic electrical items can be checked safely, keys, remotes, manuals and service information are ready and unresolved changes are reported before signing closing documents.