New Homeowners' Checklist
Contractors Data Company

FOUNDATIONS 1. CRACKS 2. LEAKS OR CONDENSATION (BASEMENTS) 3. HONEY COMBS 4. DISINTEGRATION OF THE CONCRETE 5. ADEQUATE VENTILATION (CRAWL SPACE)   CONCRETE FLAT-WORK 1. CRACKS 2. UNEVEN TRANSITIONS 3. DIPS (WAVES) 4. ROUGH EDGES 5. DRIVEWAYS AND SIDEWALKS DRAIN AWAY FROM HOUSE 6. PORCH DRAINS AWAY   FRAMING 1. PLUMB AND LEVEL WALLS AND OPENINGS 2. TIGHT CORNERS 3. NO LOOSE BOTTOMS 4. TOPS SECURED 5. UNEVEN CEILINGS 6. BOWS IN WALLS 7. FLOORS SQUEEK (WOOD FLOORS ONLY)   DECKS 1. SETTLEMENT 2. LOOSE RAILS OR POSTS 3. STEPS TO TALL OR SHORT (STANDARD STEP IS 7-INCH RISE 10 1/2-INCH TREAD) 4. STEPS LOOSE 5. BUILT WITH PRESSURE TREATED LUMBER, CEDAR OR REDWOOD   WINDOWS 1. WINDOWS OPEN WITHOUT TROUBLE 2. WINDOWS ARE SECURE IN THE HOLE 3. INSIDE REVEAL IS THE SAME 4. TORN SCREENS 5. BROKEN WINDOWS 6. CLOUDING BETWEEN PANES 7. DRAFTS   ROOF 1. LOOSE SHINGLES 2. WARPED SHINGLES 3. STRAIGHT EDGES 4. ADEQUATE VENTILATION 5. PROPERLY SEALED VENT BOOTS (plumbing vents)   EXTERIOR FINISH (BRICK, SIDING) 1. STRAIGHT LINES 2. SIDING NOT LOOSE 3. PAINT OR STAIN PEELING 4. PAINT SPLATTERS 5. KNOT HOLES THAT BLEED THROUGH 6. VENTS DON'T LEAK 7. CRACKS IN THE MASONRY 8. TIGHT JOINTS 9. GUTTERS SECURED 10. WATER DOES NOT STAY IN GUTTERS 11. PORCH POSTS ARE PLUMB AND SECURE   DOORS 1. OPEN AND CLOSE PROPERLY 2. WARPED DOORS 3. DOORS RUB ON CARPET 4. GAP AROUND DOOR IS THE SAME WHEN CLOSED 5. DOOR STOPS 6. KNOB FUNCTIONS 7. KNOB LOOSE OR RATTLES 8. LOCKS FUNCTION 9. SQUARE AND PLUMB 10. THRESHOLDS ARE SECURE   DRYWALL 1. NO CRACKS 2. STRAIGHT CORNERS 3. UNEVEN TEXTURE 4. NO TAPE SHOWING 5. SCREW HEADS SHOWING ABOVE DOORS AND WINDOWS 6. HUMPS

TRIM 1. TIGHT JOINTS 2. NAILS NOT SEEN 3. LEVEL AND PLUMB 4. DOOR TRIM HAS THE SAME REVEAL 5. ROUGH SPOTS 6. FINISH IS EVEN 7. CABINETS SECURED TO WALLS 8. COUNTER TOPS SECURED 9. DOORS LEVEL AND PLUMB 10. DOORS OPEN PROPERLY 11. DRAWERS OPEN 12. CHIPS AND CRACKS IN TOPS   FIREPLACE 1. CRACKS OR SEPARATION FROM WALL 2. WATER IN FIRE BOX 3. DOES DAMPER WORK 4. CHIMNEY CAP   ELECTRIC 1. WIRING IS NOT LOOSE 2. BOXES NOT LOOSE AND UNIFORM 3. GROUNDS 4. NEAT AND CLEAN JOB 5. SWITCHES AND RECEPTICALS TIGHT 6. ELECTRIC PANEL MARKED CLEARLY 7. FIXTURES TIGHT TO CEILING AND WALLS 8. FIXTURES WORK PROPERLY 9. LIGHT BULBS   PLUMBING 1. NO LEAKS UNDER CABINETS 2. FIXTURES WORK PROPERLY 3. NOISY WATER PIPES 4. ALL PLUMBING HOLES (IN WALLS AND UNDER CABINETS) ARE SEALED 5. HOT WATER HEATER HAS A DRAIN NEAR IT WITH A LINE FROM THE POP-OFF GOING TO IT 6. HOT WATER WORKS 7. DISHWASHER WORKS 8. GARBAGE DISPOSAL WORKS 9. STOOLS AND SINKS SECURE 10. TUBS SEALED AT FLOOR 11. ALL VENTS ARE SECURED   HVAC 1. BOTH HEAT AND AIR WORK 2. KNOW WHERE THE FILTER IS AND HOW TO GET TO IT 3. THERMOSTAT MOUNTED LEVEL 4. REGISTERS ALL SECURE 5. REGISTERS NEAR WINDOWS AND EXTERIOR DOORS 6. IF UNIT IS IN THE ATTIC IS THERE CLEAR ACCESS AND A LIGHT NEAR IT 7. CONDENSATION LINES 8. NOISY DUCT WORK   MIRRORS AND SHOWER DOORS 1. NO CHIPPED EDGES 2. SECURED TO THE WALL 3. DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES 4. SEALED EDGES AROUND SHOWER DOORS   PAINT 1. SAME COLOR 2. EVEN COAT 3. ALL TRIM JOINTS AND DOOR OPENINGS CAULKED (IF PAINTED)   FLOORING 1. CARPET IS TIGHT 2. SEAMS DON'T SHOW 3. OVER CUT CORNERS (CARPET AND VINYL) 4. METAL TRIM IS SECURED 5. BUBBLES OR HUMPS 6. CLEAN   DO YOU HAVE ALL THE MANUFACTURERS' WARRANTIES AND OWNER'S MANUALS FOR ALL YOUR FIXTURES? ASK QUESTIONS! LEARN HOW EVERYTHING OPERATES