Free · printable
The Home Buyer's Red-Flag Walkthrough Checklist
What to actually look for at a showing — the things that cost real money and listings never show. Print it, take it with you, and tick as you go. Links go to the full guide for anything you want to understand.
1 · Outside & drainage
- Does the ground slope away from the house? Any pooling at the foundation? (grading)
- Do downspouts extend away from the wall, not dump right beside it?
- Cracks in the foundation, walls, or cladding (brick/stucco/siding)?
- Retaining walls leaning; trees close to the foundation?
2 · Roof
- Shingles curling, bald patches, moss, or granules in the gutters? (roof age)
- Sagging or wavy roofline; multiple layers of shingles?
- Ask: how old is the roof, and was it ever fully replaced?
3 · Basement & structure
- Musty smell, water stains, or white powder (efflorescence) on the walls? (mould)
- Horizontal, bowing, or stair-step foundation cracks? (cracks)
- Fresh paint in one odd spot (a possible cover-up)?
4 · Electrical
- Read the main breaker: 60, 100, or 200 amps? 60 is often uninsurable. (service size)
- Ceramic knobs/tubes or cloth wiring in the basement/attic? (knob & tube)
- A Federal Pacific or Zinsco panel? (panels)
5 · Plumbing
- What are the pipes? Galvanized, poly-B, lead, or copper? (plumbing)
- Heavy dark cast-iron drains in a pre-1975 home? (drains)
- Water heater age and any leaks/rust at the base? (water heater)
6 · Heating & cooling
- Read the manufacture date on the furnace and AC. (HVAC age)
- A basement oil tank, or fill/vent pipes from the ground (buried tank)? (oil tank)
- Mid-efficiency furnace venting up a chimney (older) vs. white PVC?
7 · Health hazards (older homes)
- Popcorn ceilings, pipe wrap, or 9×9 floor tile (asbestos-era)? (asbestos)
- Grey-brown pebbly attic insulation (vermiculite)? Don't disturb it. (vermiculite)
- Pre-1980 build? Consider a radon test and watch for lead paint. (radon)
8 · Ask the agent
- How old are the roof, furnace, AC, water heater, and windows?
- Any insurance issues (knob-and-tube, oil tank, 60-amp, claims history)?
- What's been updated, when, and was it permitted?
- Any known issues, repairs, or past water/insect problems?
This checklist is general education to help you look — it is not a home inspection and not professional advice. It can't replace a licensed home inspection, which you should always get before you remove conditions or buy.