Water-related

• Any sign of moisture or water leakage inside your home
• Ponding water or flooding outside your home
• Dry rot anywhere
• Water seeping through the slab
• Absence of gutters and downspouts
• Wet slabs or moisture in crawl spaces
• Roofs that leak or pond water
• Windows or skylights with water stains around them
• Lack of water pressure
• Extremely hot water that scalds on contact
• Stains on walls or ceilings
• Irrigation systems that cause flooding or water ponding

 

Cracking

• Cracks in drywall, tile, cabinets, concrete slabs, or foundations
• External stucco cracking, flaking, or staining
• Sidewalks, driveways, or garage slabs that have cracks, efflorescence, or are beginning to disintegrate
• Pest infestations through cracks in slabs or walls

 

Electrical

• Power breaker switches that often trip
  
• Lights that flicker on and off

 

Foundation

• Uneven or sloping floors, or walls out of plumb
• Windows or doors that don't close correctly
  
• Openings in attic crawl spaces between units
• Chimney caps without spark arrestors

 

Mold

• Visible mold
• Dizziness, drowsiness, or an unusual number of colds or allergy symptoms you didn't have before you moved into the building
• Odd odors

 

Exterior of Building

• Decks that don't drain properly, feel spongy, or have cracks on the surface.
• Balcony railings that are loose, rusting, or rotting
• External patios and walls separating from house or slab
• Loose, slipping, or falling roof tiles

 

Systems

• Gas ranges that fail to light or burn sporadically, indicating leaky gas lines
• Heating systems and furnaces that fail to operate or make unusual noises