ASHI home inspection checklist (Standard of Practice)
The ASHI Standard of Practice is the oldest home inspection standard in North America and the reference in many states without their own licensing rules. This page turns sections 3 to 12 of the Standard (effective March 1, 2014 — still the current version on ashi.org, a revised version approved in January 2026 having no implementation date yet) into a working checklist: what the inspector shall inspect and describe, section by section.
Official source: American Society of Home Inspectors (homeinspector.org)
Every section verified against the source on: September 12, 2026
1. Structural components
Source: ASHI Standard of Practice for Home Inspections — effective March 1, 2014 (current version), SOP 3 — verified September 12, 2026
Inspect
Describe
Not required by SOP 3 — do not present these as inspection items
- Provide engineering or architectural services or analysis
- Offer an opinion about the adequacy of structural systems and components
- Enter under-floor crawlspace areas with less than 24 inches of vertical clearance or an access opening smaller than 16 by 24 inches
- Traverse attic load-bearing components concealed by insulation or other materials
2. Exterior
Source: ASHI Standard of Practice for Home Inspections — effective March 1, 2014 (current version), SOP 4 — verified September 12, 2026
Inspect
Describe
Not required by SOP 4 — do not present these as inspection items
- Inspect screening, shutters, awnings, and similar seasonal accessories
- Inspect fences, boundary walls, and similar structures
- Inspect geological and soil conditions
- Inspect recreational facilities
- Inspect outbuildings other than garages and carports
- Inspect seawalls, break-walls, and docks
- Inspect erosion control and earth stabilization measures
3. Roofing
Source: ASHI Standard of Practice for Home Inspections — effective March 1, 2014 (current version), SOP 5 — verified September 12, 2026
Inspect
Describe
Not required by SOP 5 — do not present these as inspection items
- Inspect antennas
- Inspect interiors of vent systems, flues, and chimneys that are not readily accessible
- Inspect other installed accessories
4. Plumbing
Source: ASHI Standard of Practice for Home Inspections — effective March 1, 2014 (current version), SOP 6 — verified September 12, 2026
Inspect
Describe
Not required by SOP 6 — do not present these as inspection items
- Inspect clothes washing machine connections
- Inspect interiors of vent systems, flues, and chimneys that are not readily accessible
- Inspect wells, well pumps, and water storage related equipment
- Inspect water conditioning systems
- Inspect solar, geothermal, and other renewable energy water heating systems
- Inspect manual and automatic fire extinguishing and sprinkler systems and landscape irrigation systems
- Inspect septic and other sewage disposal systems
- Determine whether water supply and sewage disposal are public or private, water quality, or the adequacy of combustion air components
- Measure water supply flow and pressure, and well water quantity
- Fill shower pans and fixtures to test for leaks
5. Electrical
Source: ASHI Standard of Practice for Home Inspections — effective March 1, 2014 (current version), SOP 7 — verified September 12, 2026
Inspect
Describe
Not required by SOP 7 — do not present these as inspection items
- Inspect remote control devices
- Inspect or test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, security systems, and other signaling and warning devices
- Inspect low voltage wiring systems and components
- Inspect ancillary wiring systems not part of the primary electrical power distribution system
- Inspect solar, geothermal, wind, and other renewable energy systems
- Measure amperage, voltage, and impedance
- Determine the age and type of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms
6. Heating
Source: ASHI Standard of Practice for Home Inspections — effective March 1, 2014 (current version), SOP 8 — verified September 12, 2026
The inspector shall
Describe
Not required by SOP 8 — do not present these as inspection items
- Inspect interiors of vent systems, flues, and chimneys that are not readily accessible
- Inspect heat exchangers
- Inspect humidifiers and dehumidifiers
- Inspect electric air cleaning and sanitizing devices
- Inspect heating systems using ground-source, water-source, solar, and renewable energy technologies
- Inspect heat-recovery and similar whole-house mechanical ventilation systems
- Determine heat supply adequacy and distribution balance
- Determine the adequacy of combustion air components
7. Air conditioning
Source: ASHI Standard of Practice for Home Inspections — effective March 1, 2014 (current version), SOP 9 — verified September 12, 2026
The inspector shall
Describe
Not required by SOP 9 — do not present these as inspection items
- Inspect electric air cleaning and sanitizing devices
- Determine cooling supply adequacy and distribution balance
- Inspect cooling units that are not permanently installed or that are installed in windows
- Inspect cooling systems using ground-source, water-source, solar, and renewable energy technologies
8. Interiors
Source: ASHI Standard of Practice for Home Inspections — effective March 1, 2014 (current version), SOP 10 — verified September 12, 2026
Inspect
Not required by SOP 10 — do not present these as inspection items
- Inspect paint, wallpaper, and other finish treatments
- Inspect floor coverings or window treatments
- Inspect coatings on and the hermetic seals between panes of window glass
- Inspect central vacuum systems or recreational facilities
- Inspect installed and free-standing kitchen and laundry appliances not listed in Section 10.1.F
- Inspect appliance thermostats including their calibration, adequacy of heating elements, self cleaning oven cycles, indicator lights, door seals, timers, clocks, timed features, and other specialized features
- Operate, or confirm the operation of, every control and feature of an inspected appliance
9. Insulation and ventilation
Source: ASHI Standard of Practice for Home Inspections — effective March 1, 2014 (current version), SOP 11 — verified September 12, 2026
Inspect
Describe
Not required by SOP 11 — do not present these as inspection items
- Disturb insulation
10. Fireplaces and fuel-burning appliances
Source: ASHI Standard of Practice for Home Inspections — effective March 1, 2014 (current version), SOP 12 — verified September 12, 2026
Inspect
Describe
Not required by SOP 12 — do not present these as inspection items
- Inspect interiors of vent systems, flues, and chimneys that are not readily accessible
- Inspect fire screens and doors, seals and gaskets, or automatic fuel feed devices
- Inspect mantles and fireplace surrounds, combustion air components (or determine their adequacy), or heat distribution assists
- Inspect fuel-burning fireplaces and appliances located outside the inspected structures
- Determine draft characteristics
- Move fireplace inserts and stoves or firebox contents
General limitations and exclusions — SOP 13 (summary)
Source: ASHI Standard of Practice for Home Inspections — effective March 1, 2014 (current version) — verified September 12, 2026
The inspector is not required to:
- Inspections are not technically exhaustive and do not identify concealed conditions, latent defects, consequential damages, or cosmetic imperfections
- The Standard applies to buildings with four or fewer dwelling units and their attached and detached garages and carports
- The inspector is NOT required to determine the condition of systems not readily accessible, remaining life expectancy, strength/adequacy/effectiveness/efficiency, causes of conditions, methods/materials/costs of corrections, future conditions, code compliance, market value, advisability of purchase, or the presence of hazardous plants, animals, or environmental hazards
- The inspector is NOT required to offer engineering, architectural, contracting, or surveying services, warranties or guarantees, or any service other than home inspection
- The inspector is NOT required to operate shut-down systems, systems not responding to normal operating controls, shut-off valves, or automatic safety controls
- The inspector is NOT required to enter dangerous areas or inaccessible crawlspaces and attics, move personal property, dismantle systems, ignite flames, or probe surfaces that would be damaged
How to use this checklist
Open it on any phone, tablet, or computer during the walkthrough. Mark each item OK (inspected, no deficiency observed), DEF (deficient — the finding goes in your report), or N/I (not inspected, with the reason in the section notes). Then print or save the page as a US Letter PDF: the printed document carries the standard's reference, the verification date, and the disclaimer. Nothing is stored anywhere — the page holds your marks only until you close it, which is the point: your working document leaves with you as a PDF.
The collapsed “Not required” block inside each section lists what the standard explicitly excludes. Those exclusions are part of the standard: they are shown so that no exclusion is ever mistaken for an inspection item, and so you can point a client to the exact limitation when a question comes up.
Frequently asked questions
Which version of the ASHI Standard does this checklist follow?
The ASHI Standard of Practice for Home Inspections effective March 1, 2014 — the current version published on homeinspector.org. A revised standard was approved by membership vote in January 2026 but has no implementation date yet; this page will be updated when it takes effect.
When should I use the ASHI checklist instead of a state checklist?
In states that do not license home inspectors and therefore have no state standard of practice. In a licensed state, the state SOP is the legal floor and takes precedence — use the state checklist.
Does the ASHI Standard require testing every appliance feature?
No. Section 10.2 excludes appliance thermostats and their calibration, self-cleaning cycles, indicator lights, timers, and other specialized features, and the inspector is not required to confirm the operation of every control.
What properties does the ASHI Standard cover?
Buildings with four or fewer dwelling units and their attached and detached garages and carports, per section 13.1.
Does this tool store my inspection data?
No. Everything runs in your browser. Marks and notes exist only until you close the page — print or save the PDF before leaving. There is no account and no server storage.