Free PDF guide
Exterior Evaluation Checklist: What the Curb Doesn't Show
What roof age, siding, and grading actually cost — a $40,000+ gap the listing photos won't show you.
What's inside
- ✓A four-section walkthrough — roof/gutters, siding, foundation, drainage — with a cost tag on every observation
- ✓What a $40,000+ near-term cost picture looks like when roof, fascia, and grading issues stack together, none of it visible in listing photos
- ✓A summary sheet to bring to your inspection contingency so nothing you flagged gets missed
3 key takeaways
Where should you start when evaluating a house, and why?
The exterior, before you ever walk through the front door. Listing photos are taken on the best day, in the best light — the exterior tells a different story in person.
What's the single biggest red flag in the drainage section?
Ground that slopes toward the house at any point. Grading that diverts water to the foundation is the root cause behind most basement water intrusion.
What should you do with anything flagged $$$?
Factor the estimated cost into your offer before you write it, and get a rough contractor estimate if the issue is visible and significant. A $20,000 roof should be a negotiating point, not a surprise.
Other free HomeMath downloads
Electrical & Plumbing Red Flag Guide
What panel type, wiring era, and pipe material actually cost to fix — before you're the one who owns them.
Get it →
Attic Inspection Checklist: What $1,500–$10,000 Looks Like
What ventilation, insulation, and roof-deck staining actually cost to fix, before you're the one who owns them.
Get it →
Basement & Foundation Red Flag Guide: What $500 Buys You
What a structural engineer costs to tell you if a crack is cosmetic or a $30,000 problem, before you sign.
Get it →