Tip: Get answers in writing where it matters. A seller's disclosure and a permit history from the county are documents, not conversations. If an answer sounds vague, that's usually the one worth chasing down before your inspection period ends.

Don't do this alone. This list works best as a conversation, not a solo project. Your agent can pull permit records, read the seller's disclosure, and tell you what's normal for that neighborhood. Your lender can tell you what an answer actually does to your payment, your loan program, or your cash to close, often the same day you ask. Two people who know the local market will catch things a checklist alone won't.

And stay realistic. No home is perfect. Not a 40-year-old house, and not new construction either. Brand-new homes routinely come with punch-list items, settling cracks, and warranty claims in the first year. The goal of these questions isn't to find a flawless property, it's to know exactly what you're taking on so nothing surprises you after closing. A few known issues you've priced in beat one unknown issue you haven't.