"You may see water stains, which could indicate a leak farther up the roof," says Mike Lauby, a Phoenix, Ariz., home inspector.
The Walls
Use your eyes and your nose. Look for areas of "fuzzy" drywall or plaster, which can indicate that water is getting behind the walls.
If a room, closet or under sink cabinet has a mildew smell, that's a red flag. Mold and mildew remediation can be expensive and it's a problem you'll want to know about before all the paperwork is signed.
You may see fine cracks around doors and window casements as a result of the house "settling." But as long as they're no wider than the width of a dime, it's usually not a problem.
Turn On the Water
Try out each faucet you find, especially in houses that have been vacant for a long period. If the water comes out rusty then old galvanized pipes will need to be replaced with copper.
See if the water pressure is the same all around the house. If the water in one sink trickles while it flows in the bathroom downstairs, that's not necessarily a huge problem. The aerator, the inexpensive screw-in filter where water flows out of, may just need changing.
The Furnace
It may be hot out, but turn the furnace on. When turning on either the furnace or air conditioner, listen for pounding noises coming from the vents. You don't have to know what's causing it -- you just need to make a note for the home inspector to do a full check of the unit.
John Morell
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