Know your house before it surprises you
What a home inspector looks for, what you can check yourself, and what to ask before you buy or sell.
5 chapters
Start with these three
Homeowner guideA Comprehensive Guide to DIY Home Inspection: Safeguarding Your Home Inside and OutLearn how to protect your home with a DIY home inspection checklist. Identify issues early, save money, and keep your family safe. Read now!
Homeowner guideFall Home Inspection Checklist: 20 Things to Check Before the First FreezeA homeowner's fall walk-around: 20 things to check outside and inside before the first hard freeze, from gutters and grading to the furnace, detectors and the water heater.
Homeowner guideHow to Read a Home Inspection Report Without PanickingEvery inspection report looks scary. Most of it isn't. How to sort the findings into safety, big-ticket, and maintenance, what 'further evaluation' really means, and how to use the report in negotiations.Inspection FAQ: quick answers
01Inspection FAQIs it safe to buy a house that tested high for radon?A high radon test during inspection isn't always a deal-breaker. Learn how to confirm the result, negotiate the fix, and what mitigation costs.Can you waive the inspection contingency and still get an inspection?
Waiving the inspection contingency doesn't mean skipping the inspection. Learn what you give up, what you keep, and a pre-signing checklist.
Read the guide →Should you send the seller the whole inspection report?
Usually you shouldn't send the full report. Learn what to share with the seller, what to keep private, and when your contract requires full copies.
Read the guide →The seller didn't disclose it and the inspector didn't find it. Who pays?
Hidden defect after closing? Learn when the seller, the inspector, or you pay, what the state rules mean, and what to do in 30 days.
Read the guide →How do you read your furnace's and water heater's age off the sticker?
Find the data plate on your furnace or water heater, use the printed date or decode the serial, then compare the age with typical lifespans.
Read the guide →What does an October home inspection miss because the heat has barely run?
An October inspection runs the heat only briefly. Learn what it misses, what to check in your first cold week, and when to call an HVAC pro.
Read the guide →Latest guides
04PlumbingWhat fails in a guest bathroom that has not been used all year?
05SafetyWhere is a space heater unsafe in a room where guests will sleep?
02Seasonal ChecklistsAttic condensation when you turn the heat on
04PlumbingDoes homeowners insurance cover a failed sump pump?
02Seasonal ChecklistsWhy Does the Furnace Smell Like Burning Dust the First Time It Runs?
02Seasonal ChecklistsShould You Cover the Outdoor AC Unit for Winter?