Texas Inspection Checklist Overview
While a Texas Inspection Checklist can help, the best way to prepare is to have a pre-listing inspection by a licensed home inspector who will tell you what the condition of the home and it’s systems is at the time of the inspection. You can then sit down with your Realtor® who can help you decide what items should be repaired and which items belong on your seller’s disclosure.
The Texas inspection checklist below is not intended to be all-inclusive, nor to be a substitute for a home inspection by a certified and qualified home inspector. It is however, a Texas inspection checklist of things that most home and property owners can address on their own. You may benefit from looking at the TREC Inspection Form as well.
Texas Inspection Checklist
- Label all electrical breakers. You’d think this one was easy, but it’s a surprisingly common defect.
- Install anti-backflow devices on your exterior hose bibs. These are under $10 in most hardware stores and come with instructions to properly install them so they can’t be removed easily.
- Install the anti-tip device on your range in the kitchen. Every range comes with one.
- Change the light bulbs that are burned out and replace the ones that are missing.
- Replace any broken outlet or switch covers.
- Have an electrician replace any broken switches, outlets, or GFCI devices that do not trip when you press the “test” button or reset when you press the “reset” button.
- Repair any damaged window screens. Even if you don’t use them they need to be in good working order. If they are missing, replace them.
- Change the batteries in your smoke detectors. If the smoke detectors are over 10 years old replace them. Make sure you have them in the required places and installed in the right locations.
- Change the filter on your HVAC unit. Your utility bill will thank you as well.
- Make sure your sink stoppers work.
- Make sure the hot water is on the left and the cold water is on the right for sinks, showers, and tubs. If it’s not get a plumber or handyman to take care of it. If it’s too difficult, just put it on your seller’s disclosure.
- Make sure the toilet is securely bolted to the floor. If it’s loose it’s deficient and needs correction by a plumber.
- Make sure the caulk around anything going through the outside walls is there and in good condition. Pipes, wires, windows, doors, etc. This is very common.
- Make sure your dishwasher has a high loop on the drain.
- Make sure the Food Waste Disposer has the cord properly secured on the bottom. An electrician or handyman can fix this if it’s not.
- Make sure you are not blocking your windows and doors in the house with furniture.
- Replace the pull cord on your attic stairs if the one that is there looks like a shoe lace from 1982.
- Remove any insulation that didn’t come with the attic stairs from between the stairs and the board they mount to. It shouldn’t be there anyway.
- Remove any items that are stored in front of your electrical panel. Most inspectors will not move much and we are not required to move anything to get to the panel.
- Have a roofer check the flashing and exposed fasteners on the roof. I write this up on almost every roof because it usually needs attention. I don’t see very many perfect roofs. Aside from just being wrong, keeping water out will prevent deterioration of the home and roof structure.
These are common and easily corrected things that get written up on most inspections. As always, the items in the report are an issue for the buyer, seller, and their agents to discuss and work out. Thank you for reading and I hope this helps with your inspection!
