Boston Home Tour Checklist Part 1 (Exterior, Basement, Kitchen)

Boston.com put together a Boston Home Tour Checklist to keep handy when you are deciding if your potential new home is right for you. Here’s part one of a two-part list that covers the exterior, basement/crawlspace, and kitchen.

Cross the street and look at the home for signs of leaning

(Brick homes) The bricks aren’t chipped or loose and the mortar is intact

Shrubs/trees aren’t too close (you should be able to walk between the greenery and the home)

No signs of damage (ex. shingles that are not uniform in color or damaged along the edges)

Lawn shows no signs of erosion/drainage flow issues (water should run away from the home)

Flashing and tar around skylights, vents, or chimneys look intact (please eyeball this from the ground!)

Gutters/downspouts are in good condition and properly attached

Utility cables are clear of greenery

Windowsills and screens are in good condition

Retaining walls are in good condition/free of cracks or voids

Steps show no signs of masonry damage (cracks you can fit a finger into are signs of a problem)

No signs of structural movement when walking on a deck

No sag on a deck, and the railings are in good condition

No signs of ongoing insect/pest treatment (termite treatments look like green disks or sprinkler heads pushed into the ground)

Doors are in good condition

Garage doors work
Check the manufacturing label on air-conditioning units (the newer it is, the better it is – generally)

Cracks in the foundation (hairline cracks are generally fine, but something you can stick a finger in can signal structural damage)

Note the age of the water heater, boilers, heating and cooling systems, and furnace (usually found on a manufacturing label)

Heating systems are in good condition

No standing water or water stains (check behind stacked boxes!)

No exterior damage to exposed pipes

No signs of rust

No signs of ceiling sag

Stairwell has a railing, and the steps are in good condition

Basement does not smell musty

No rust or deterioration of metal support columns

The main water line is not lead, which will need to be replaced (copper pipes are best, while older iron pipes can
rust)

An easy trick to tell whether it’s lead is to scrape a pipe with a coin – if the metal is soft and turns a shiny
color, it’s likely lead.)

Electrical panel is not old (that could mean wiring eventually becomes an
issue)

Electrical panel is at least a 100-amp breaker box (200-amp is typical for newer homes)

There are lots of breakers within the fuse box, and the wiring looks neat and
uniform

There shouldn’t be signs of pests/vermin in the basement or any access points for them to get in

No damage to exposed pipes under the sink

Faucet runs hot and cold water

There is a three-holed plug outlet on every wall

Cabinets are in good condition

Appliances are in good condition

Exhaust fan vents to the outside

Sink disposal works (if applicable)

Windows open and close

Doors close and latch

Floors are level and in good condition

Stay tuned for Boston Home Tour Checklist part 2.