Free tool
Home inspection checklist
A printable checklist by system — roof, foundation, electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling and more — for buyers walking a home or sellers getting one ready. Edit the items, add your details and use the notes column beside every line. Not a substitute for a licensed inspector. Nothing you type is sent or stored.
Like quick, simple tools? Kadapt turns listing photos into short video reels.
Why give clients an inspection checklist
Inspections are stressful and full of jargon. A checklist organised by system helps a buyer know what to look at before an offer, helps a seller fix or document the obvious items before photos, and gives you a professional handout with your name on it. It never replaces the inspector: it makes the conversation with the inspector better.
What the checklist covers
- Roof, exterior and drainage: covering, flashings, gutters, siding, grading and paths.
- Foundation and structure: cracks, settling, sticking doors, moisture and signs of past repair.
- Electrical and plumbing: panel, outlets, visible wiring, supply and waste lines, water heater, leaks.
- Heating, cooling and ventilation: equipment age, filters, vents and airflow.
- Interior, attic and basement: windows, floors, ceilings, insulation, damp and pests.
- Safety: smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, handrails, locks and fire exits.
Every line is about the property. It is a walk-through aid, not an inspection, and it does not diagnose anything: if something looks wrong, the next step is a licensed inspector or contractor.
Using it
- Pick buyer or seller, add your contact details and a brand colour.
- Untick items that do not apply and add local ones (radon, termites, septic, flood zone) as extra lines.
- Print it, or save a PDF or PNG, and use the notes column during the walk-through.
- Share the notes with the inspector or contractor and book a licensed professional.
More free tools: the buyer home tour checklist, the closing day checklist, the home maintenance checklist, the home staging checklist, the moving checklist, and the rest of the free tools for real estate agents.
Related tools for buyers and investors: home buyer closing cost estimator mortgage payment calculator, first-time home buyer checklist and home selling checklist.
Guide: A closing day walkthrough real estate agents can give buyers.
Common questions
Is the home inspection checklist really free?
Yes. There is no signup and no watermark. The checklist is built in your browser and you can print it, save it as a PDF through the print dialog, or download it as a PNG image.
Does it replace a licensed home inspection?
No. It is a memory aid for walking through a home and noting what you see. It does not replace a licensed inspector, who has the training, tools and access to check a property properly, and ticking an item here does not mean anything was inspected by a qualified person. Recommend a licensed inspector before any purchase.
Who is it for: buyers or sellers?
Both. Choose "Buyer walk-through" for a checklist of what to look at and ask about before and during an inspection, or "Seller pre-listing check" for the maintenance items worth fixing or documenting before photos and showings. The systems are the same; the heading and the closing prompt change.
What systems does it cover?
Roof, exterior and drainage, foundation and structure, electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling, interior (walls, floors, windows and doors), attic and insulation, basement or crawl space, kitchen and bathrooms, safety devices and, if you keep them ticked, garage and outbuildings.
Can I edit the items and add my own?
Yes. Untick anything that does not apply, such as a basement in a slab-on-grade home, and add your own lines in the box under each section. Each section keeps its own extra items.
What is the notes column for?
Every item has a tick box and a notes line beside it, for a short description of what was seen, a photo number or a follow-up question for the inspector or contractor.
Does Kadapt see what I type?
No. Your name, contact details, the property address and any items you add are used only to draw the checklist on your own screen. Nothing is sent to Kadapt, stored, or used in analytics. The only thing counted is that someone pressed print or download, never what was on the sheet.
Why is everything about the property?
The checklist covers the building and its systems. It does not prompt anyone to judge neighbours or the type of people who live nearby, which keeps it clear of fair housing problems.