Our simple Home Buyer Checklist identifies many of the essential factors you have to consider when choosing your next home. An affordable sales price is important but you will also want to make sure that the neighbourhood and the house meets the needs of your family.
Print this checklist out and take it along when you go inspecting properties this weekend. It could help you evaluate the neighbourhoods, assess the condition of various features of the house and compare up to three homes in a side-by-side comparison. Click here if you want to print this page.
| Home Buyer checklist | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Property Address | . | . | . |
| Asking Price | $ | $ | $ |
| Real Estate Taxes | $ | $ | $ |
| The Neighborhood | |||
| Near Work | . | . | . |
| Near Schools | . | . | . |
| Near Shopping | . | . | . |
| Near Expressways | . | . | . |
| Near Public Transportation | . | . | . |
| Near Doctors / Dentists | . | . | . |
| Near Churches | . | . | . |
| Garbage Collection | . | . | . |
| Street Lights | . | . | . |
| Sidewalks | . | . | . |
| Streets / Alleys Well Maintained | . | . | . |
| Traffic Volume | . | . | . |
| Parks | . | . | . |
| Neighbor’s Property Well Maintained | . | . | . |
| All Utilities Installed | . | . | . |
| Neighborhood / Restrictions | . | . | . |
| Near Trains / Airports | . | . | . |
| Area Zoned Residential | . | . | . |
| Near Industry | . | . | . |
| Proposed Special Assessments | . | . | . |
| Environment Concerns / Influences | . | . | . |
| The House | |||
| Age of House | . | . | . |
| No. of Stories | . | . | . |
| Wood Frame | . | . | . |
| Brick Frame | . | . | . |
| Wood & Brick Frame | . | . | . |
| Aluminum Siding | . | . | . |
| Roof Condition | . | . | . |
| Foundation Condition | . | . | . |
| Overall Exterior Condition | . | . | . |
| Garage Size | . | . | . |
| No. of Bathrooms | . | . | . |
| No. of Closets | . | . | . |
| No. of Bedrooms | . | . | . |
| Oil Heat | . | . | . |
| Gas Heat | . | . | . |
| Electric Heat | . | . | . |
| Hot Water Heat | . | . | . |
| Insulation | . | . | . |
| Central Air Conditioning | . | . | . |
| Energy-Conservation Features | . | . | . |
| Age of Heating System | . | . | . |
| Age of Water Heater | . | . | . |
| Capacity of Water Heater | . | . | . |
| Age of Electrical Wiring | . | . | . |
| Plumbing Condition | . | . | . |
| Estimated Water Bill | $ | $ | $ |
| Estimated Heating Bill | $ | $ | $ |
| Estimated Electric Bill | $ | $ | $ |
| Living Room | . | . | . |
| Fireplace | . | . | . |
| Separate Dining Room | . | . | . |
| Family Room | . | . | . |
| Drapes – No. of Rooms | . | . | . |
| Carpeting – No. of Rooms | . | . | . |
| Kitchen Eating Area | . | . | . |
| Refrigerator | . | . | . |
| Stove / Oven (Gas / Electric) | . | . | . |
| Garbage Disposal | . | . | . |
| Dishwasher | . | . | . |
| Broken Windows | . | . | . |
| Storm Windows / Screens | . | . | . |
| Washer / Dryer Outlets | . | . | . |
| Laundry Space | . | . | . |
| Finished Basement | . | . | . |
| Attic | . | . | . |
| Sump Pump / Drainage | . | . | . |
| Connected to Sewer System | . | . | . |
| Patio | . | . | . |
| Backyard Fence | . | . | . |
| Landscaping | . | . | . |
| Property Boundaries | . | . | . |
| Security (dead bolts, detectors) | . | . | . |
| Building Code | . | . | . |
| Compliance | . | . | . |
| Ability to Expand / Enlarge House | . | . | . |