elements

of a home
Overview of the basic big-ticket items
and key mechanicals of a home so you
can educate your clients and field their
questions - after all, you are the expert!
 'Big Ticket'
Items

ROOF/WINDOWS/SIDING
1 What to look for when your clients
want to know about the condition and
age of the exterior.

2 HEATING/COOLING

Types of heat and air you may find in

a home.

3 WATER/SEWER

Off-site (public). On-site (well and

septic).

OTHER ELEMENTS
4
Appliances, hot water heater,
landscaping, driveway/sidewalks.
Roof, Windows,
and Siding

Roof
Refer to the Sellers Disclosure or the year the home
was built to determine approximate age, if possible.
Most roofs have a life span of 20-40 years -
depending on shingle type, shade/sunlight, and
ventilation
Shingles will raise up and curl when they are near
the end of their life.
Look for water stains in ceiling and attic areas in the
interior if the roof looks older
Windows
Condition of sills and frame
Are they single pane or double pane (Therma pane)
Do exterior frames need paint?

Siding, gutters, soffit,

faccia
Identify types of siding - aluminum, vinyl, wood,
masonite, asbestos
The care and maintenance is different based on the
type
Are there gutters installed with proper downspouts?
Heating Ventilation
Air Conditioning
(HVAC)
Heating Systems

Forced Air Heat:

Forced Warm Air is delivered through
vents/ductwork and sourced by:
Electric (heat pump)
Oil Furnace (hot air)
Gas Furnace (propane or natural gas)

Radiant Heat Types:

Hot Water Baseboard (Radiant) is sourced by:

Oil Furnace (boiler)

Gas Furnace (boiler, propane or natural gas)

Steam Radiant Heat (Radiators in each room)

Oil Furnace (boiler)
Gas Furnace (propane or natural gas)

Electric Baseboard Heat

A thermostat and baseboard will be in every room.
Sometimes the thermostat may be on the baseboard
unit itself

Ceiling Cable Radiant Heat

There will be no baseboards, ductwork or furnace but

you'll find a thermostat in every room
Cooling Systems
Central Air
A forced-air system.
There will be a wall thermostat with a cool setting
If the thermostat doesn't have a heat setting, it is a central air only system

Mini Split System

Mounted high on the wall and heat/cool multiple rooms or large areas
Electric systems that typically have heat and air

Window Units
Air condition specific rooms

Note: Central Air systems can easily be added to forced air heat
systems because they can use the existing ductwork.
Water and Sewer
 Water
OFF-SITE: PUBLIC WATER

Municipality or community maintained

There will be a water meter where the water comes
into the house

ON-SITE: WELL OR SPRING

Seller disclosure will clarify

It is located on the property, typically there is a cap
in the yard and a pump and/or pressure tank visible
in the basement
It is maintained by the property owner

Note: Generally, it is a good idea to test the water when it is on-site there is
no need to test public water sources since they are maintained or tested by
the municipalities.

Sewer
OFF-SITE: PUBLIC SEWER

Municipality maintained

ON-SITE: SEPTIC

Consists of a tank(s) buried on the property and a

drain field (sand mound, in-ground, etc.)
Maintained by property owners - tanks require
routine pumping
Percolation (PERC)
Test
A percolation (PERC) test is performed by a Sewage
Enforcement Officer (SEO) who is hired by the
municipalities to determine if a property is suitable
for on-site septic
Other Elements
 HOT WATER HEATER

Electric hot water heaters are most common

however they can be heated by gas or oil

LANDSCAPING

Look for dead trees/bushes and general conditions

of landscaping

STRUCTUAL ISSUES

Look for cracks in walls or foundation of house

DRIVEWAYS AND WALKS

Check for cracking and or settlement

FIREPLACES, CHIMNEYS AND FLU

Should always be inspected for cracking, condition,

and cleanliness
Many times, home inspectors will refer these to be
independently inspected by certified chimney
professionals