Pre-renovation checklist

Here's a basic checklist:

Living room, dining room, bedrooms Inspection

• Examine the walls
Check if there are any cracks, bulges, water stains, peeling paints or wallpaper, missing mortal, rotten siding or flaking bricks on the walls

• Examine the ceiling
Check if there are any peeling paints, sagging plasters or other mechanical damages on the ceiling

• Examine the floor
Check if there are any carpet baldness’s, bulging of linoleum, damages or lack of floor tiles, large stains or demanded areas, deteriorated coverings or cracked ceramics on the floor

• Examine the electrical equipment
Test all light switches, electrical outlets and their fixedness, outlets’ grounding

• Examine the windows
Check if all windows can be opened and closed easily and glasses are safe, ensure that windows are not painted shut and the hardware is working properly

Kitchen Inspection
• Examine the walls
Check if there are any cracks, bulges, water stains, peeling paints or wallpaper, missing mortal, rotten siding or flaking bricks on the walls

• Examine the ceiling
Check if there are any peeling paints or sagging plasters or other mechanical damages on the ceiling

• Examine the floor
Check if there are any swellings, large stains or demanded areas, lack of floor tiles or cracked ceramics on the floor

• Examine the electrical equipment
Test all light switches, electrical outlets and their fixedness, outlets’ grounding

• Examine the windows
Check if all windows can be opened and closed easily and glasses are safe, ensure that windows are not painted shut and the hardware is working properly

• Test all blind and curtains

• Check if all appliances are working

• Examine the exhaust system of ventilation, faucets and sinks
Check if the exhaust fans, faucets, sinks and drains are working. Examine the color of the water, the time that it takes to get hot. Examine if there is no moisture under the sink, check the water pressure

• Ask the seller to replace or fix damaged details

BathroomInspection
• Examine the walls
Check if there are any cracks, bulges, water stains, peeling paints or wallpaper on the walls

• Examine the ceiling
Check if there are any peeling paints, sagging or other mechanical damages on the ceiling

• Examine the floor
Check if there are any bulging of linoleum, damages or lack of floor tiles, large stains or demanded areas on the floor

• Examine the electrical equipment
Test all light switches, electrical outlets and their fixedness, outlets’ grounding

• Examine the windows
Check if all windows can be opened and closed easily, ensure that windows are not painted shut and the hardware is working properly

• Examine the exhaust system of ventilation, faucets and sinks
Check if the exhaust fans, faucets, sinks and drains are working. Examine the color of the water, the time that it takes to get hot, check the water pressure

• Examine the bathtub and shower
Check if the bathtub and shower work properly and there are no damages on the walls around them

• Examine the toilet
Check if there is no dripping from valves behind the toilet after flushing it and after the tank is full

• Check if there is no cracks and delaminations on the mirror

• Ask the seller to replace or fix damaged details

Electrical Inspection
• Check if the electrical connections are solidly attached to the house and re-taped

• Check if there are no wires rubbing against the house, the distance between the ground or driveway and lines

• Check if the exterior lights work

• Check the breakers, terminals and splices

• Ask the seller to fix damaged details

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Tip: Always be a pain. It's your house and if you're gonna stay in it, you want a place that you'll be proud of. It's up to the developer if they want to rectify every little defect. Scrutinise every surface, every luck, every tap, look up, down, hidden corners... Oh, be firm but nice when you're with the inspection guy. It doesn't do any good to be nasty with people who could make life easier or difficult for you.

1. Wall surfaces. Make sure they are even, especially at places where they have hacked to install additional points.

2. Paint job on walls, ceiling and doors. Must be even, no drips. Also check where ceilings and walls meet. No overlapping of paint.

3. Tiles - any missing ones? Especially mosaic ones in bathroom.

4. Locks.

5. Windows.

6. Pipes, plumbing.. any leaks?

7. Doors hinges and frames - have they been properly installed? Any gaps?

8. Stray cement - get them to clean it up.

9. The bits between tiles. If they're supposed to be white, make sure they're all white and not grey in certain areas.

10. And lastly, any cracks.
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