Open home inspection checklist

1. 01 Structural cracks Look along walls, cornices, and above windows and doors. Watch for: Wide, stepped, or diagonal cracks, especially over openings.
2. 02 Damp and mould Use your nose, and check bathrooms, under sinks, wardrobes, and skirting boards. Watch for: A musty smell, staining, bubbling paint, or fresh paint in one spot only.
3. 03 Roof and ceilings Look for sagging lines and water stains inside; check the roof form from the street. Watch for: Brown rings on ceilings or a visibly dipping roofline.
4. 04 Floors Walk each room feeling for bounce, slope, or movement; check tiles for cracks. Watch for: Springy floors or doors that will not sit square in their frames.
5. 05 Windows and doors Open and close a sample; feel for draughts and check the locks. Watch for: Painted-shut windows or gaps that let daylight through.
6. 06 Water pressure and drainage Run taps and flush a toilet if you can. Watch for: Weak flow, slow drains, or discoloured water.
7. 07 Electrical Find the switchboard and note its age; count power points in key rooms. Watch for: An old fuse board, or one power point per room in an older home.
8. 08 Kitchen and bathrooms The most expensive rooms to redo: check condition, age, and ventilation. Watch for: Tired wet areas with no exhaust fan or window.
9. 09 Light and orientation Note which way the living areas face and which rooms stay dark. Watch for: Main living spaces that get little direct sun.
10. 10 Noise Pause and listen for traffic, trains, flight paths, and neighbours. Watch for: Constant road or rail noise that a busy open home can mask.
11. 11 Storage and layout Check cupboard space and how the rooms flow for how you live. Watch for: No linen or hallway storage, or awkward walk-through rooms.
12. 12 Outside and boundaries Walk the yard: fences, drainage, large trees, and parking. Watch for: Boundary fences in poor repair or big trees close to the house.
13. 13 Phone and internet Check mobile signal on your own phone while you are there. Watch for: Poor reception inside the home.
14. 14 The street and area Walk the block and note what is nearby, in daylight and ideally again later. Watch for: Something the listing photos left out.

General information only. This checklist is a guide for inspecting a property in Victoria. It is not building, pest, or legal advice and does not replace a qualified inspector or conveyancer.