Foreclosure Home Inspection - Home Structure Inspection
Soundness of foreclosure home's structure is the most important inspection that makes or breaks the deal.
Checklist for foreclosure home structure inspection
Foundation Material: -- Poured concrete/slab -- Masonry block -- Brick -- Stone -- Wood
Foundation floor: -- Even -- Uneven (roll marble on the floor, use lever to make sure) -- Covered with carpet/floor covering, unable to inspect
If crack observed: -- Major -- Minor -- Unusual. Contact licensed structural or geotechnical engineer licensed engineer for unusual and large cracks.
Foundation settlement: -- Surface settled -- Concrete is above foundation -- Tripping hazard exists -- Evidence of deterioration -- Stains of poor drainage
This is a serious structural problem on the supporting wall.
Crawl Space: -- Exists -- None -- No access -- Partial access -- Entered -- Not entered due to ….
Inspection of exterior wall material
Type: -- Wood frame -- Masonry -- Brick -- Log -- Post and beam
Exterior wall material used: -- Wood -- Vinyl -- Metal -- Stucco -- Veneer -- EIFS (please see Foreclosure Inspection Glossary for this and other terms that you are not familiar with)
New siding? Get suspicious if the owner had new siding (metal or vinyl) installed on an old home. Check if this is to cover up damaged walls. Use your flashlight to see the underside of siding. Try to see any accumulation of molding and wood-destroying insect damage.