CMHC’s Homeowner’s Inspection Checklist
This practical, easy-to-follow guide for homeowners will help you identify common house problems and deal with them. In it, you will find illustrated how-to tips offering effective solutions for every room of your house. Use the ordering instructions on the back page of this fact sheet.
Now, Let’s Go Indoors
A prospective buyer will usually enter through your front door; so, that is where you should begin your interior inspection. You want your buyer to see a neat, clean, well-lit interior. Get clutter out of sight; ensure that carpets are clean and floors are scrubbed and polished; and that walls and trim show fresh paint (preferably neutral or light colours).
Take a sniff. Are there any unpleasant odours in your home? If so, track them down and eliminate them. Ensure all your lights work and are free of cobwebs. You want your home to look spacious, bright and fresh.
If you have considerable family memorabilia, consider thinning it out. Your objective is to help potential buyers feel as if they could live in your home. That mental leap becomes more difficult for them if your house resembles a shrine your family.
Professional realtors and decorators say the most important areas of your home to upgrade and modernize are the kitchen and bathrooms. Buyers also want to see new or recently installed floor coverings throughout.
General Interior
| Check stairs for loose boards, ripped carpeting, and missing or loose handrails and guards. | |
| Most problems with interior walls are cosmetic and can be repaired with spackling compound and paint. | |
| Ensure doors open and shut properly. Minor sticking is normal but excessive binding indicates possible structural problems. | |
| Open and close all windows to ensure they work properly. Fogging between the panes of a sealed window indicates the seal is broken and the unit needs to be replaced. | |
| Keep furniture to a minimum so rooms do not appear smaller than they are. Ensure that traffic can flow in or through rooms unimpeded. If they contain bookshelves or cabinets overflowing with books, magazines and knick-knacks, remove some of these items. | |
| Ensure closets look spacious, organized and uncluttered. Create space by getting rid of old clothes and junk. | |
| Remove or lock away valuables such as jewellery, coins, currency, cameras and compact discs. |
Kitchen and Bathrooms
| People splash water around in the kitchen and bathrooms so check around sinks, tubs and toilets for rotting countertops and floors. Problems could be due to poor caulking or plumbing leaks. Fogged windows, molds and sweating toilet tanks indicate high humidity levels, which you can remedy with exhaust fans. | |
| In the kitchen, clean all appliances, including your oven. Clean or replace your greasy stove hood filter. Clean your cabinets inside and out, as well as your countertops and backsplashes. Repair dripping faucets. | |
| Remove anything stored on top of your fridge and remove artwork and magnets. | |
| Remove any items stored on countertops. | |
| Remove items stored under the sink. | |
| In bathrooms, scrub sinks, tubs and toilets, taking care to remove any rust stains. Remove mildew from showers and bathtubs. Fix dripping faucets or trickling toilets, and vacuum your fan grill. | |
| Clean mirrors, light switch plates and cupboard handles. | |
| Consider installing new 6-litre toilets if you currently have water-guzzlers. | |
| If you have ceramic tile in either your kitchen or bathroom, ensure grouting is intact and clean. |
Basement
The condition of the foundation and main structural members in the basement are critical to the fitness of any house. The purpose of your inspection is to make sure these are sound and durable.
| Look for cracks, water seepage, efflorescence (white powder-like substance), crumbling mortar or concrete, and rotting wood. If any of these problems are present, you need to do further research to learn about causes and possible solutions. | |
| If your basement is damp or musty, consider using a dehumidifier. | |
| Like all other areas of your home, your basement should be organized and clutter-free. | |
| Change the filters in the furnace and have it cleaned–this is the number one item purchasers want done after a home inspection. | |
| If you have a pet with a litterbox, ensure the litterbox is clean. |
Garage
| Get rid of the broken tools, old car parts, discarded bicycles, empty paint cans and the hundreds of other useless items that accumulate in garages. Again, you want a clutter-free zone. | |
| Use cleaning solutions to remove oil stains from the floor. |
John Carle is a Realtor with RE/MAX Real Estate in Edmonton, Alberta. John is the lead Realtor with the Knock-Knock.ca real estate team. Licensed since 1999, John Carle has a reputation in the real estate business as a man who gets the job done.
