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Property Inspection Checklist: Home Buyer's Guide

Home Buyer and Agent Resource

Organize inspection diligence with a property inspection checklist for home buyers, agents, and transaction coordinators. Collect the general home inspection, pest/WDO, and any specialty reports (roof, sewer, mold, chimney), invoices, inspector licenses, and written repair requests that go back to the seller. This is a document list, not a substitute for a licensed inspector walking the property. Contingency deadlines in the purchase contract are strict. Not legal advice; confirm what your state contract and lender require.

Property Inspection Checklist: Home Buyer's Guide form template preview

Key Benefits

File every inspection report with the contract
Keep invoices and inspector credentials together
Track specialty reports the general inspector flagged
Write repair requests against specific report pages
Calendar the inspection-contingency deadline
Share a complete packet with lender or insurer if asked

Common Use Cases

Buyers in the inspection-contingency windowAgents coordinating vendors for a clientCash buyers still documenting conditionNew-construction walk-throughs plus third-party inspectionInsurance questions after a flagged roof or electrical issueRenegotiation packages citing report excerpts

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a general home inspection enough?
It is the starting report. Inspectors often recommend specialists for roofs, foundations, sewer laterals, chimneys, pools, or wells. Order those while the contingency is open if the general report flags them.
What should I keep besides the PDF report?
The signed inspection agreement, invoice, inspector license number, photos not embedded in the report, and any seller repair response. Lenders and insurers sometimes ask for the roof or four-point report.
Does this replace the inspector?
No. This checklist tracks documents. Only a qualified inspector should evaluate the property. Do not use a DIY room list as your only diligence.
Is this legal advice?
No. Inspection rights, option periods, and disclosure duties are set by your purchase contract and state law. Confirm deadlines before you waive a contingency.

Checklist

Reports

General home inspection report and agreement
Required

Include the inspector’s license and invoice.

Pest or wood-destroying-organism report if customary or required

Often required by lenders in some states.

Specialty reports: roof, sewer, foundation, chimney, mold, pool, well

Order what the general report or property type warrants.

Evidence

Supplemental photos the inspector or buyer took

Especially items you will ask the seller to repair.

Negotiation

Written repair or credit request citing report page numbers

Keep the seller’s written response.

Costs

Paid invoices for every inspection ordered
Required

Needed for some closing-cost credits.

Timing

Contract inspection-contingency date and delivery method
Required

How objections must be sent under the contract.

Insurance

Any four-point, wind-mit, or insurer-required inspection

Common in some coastal markets.