TIPS
Circle the house several times, in opposite directions. Look at your house from both sides
Check drainage during a torrential rain (but from the ground, not the roof). Problems that are subtle when it's dry become obvious when it's wet. Next time it rains, grab an umbrella and walk around your house, even if your neighbours think you're crazy
Plan an exterior inspection in the spring, after your house has taken winter's worst. Broken or missing shingles, damaged caulking and broken tree branches are common springtime issues
Bring a friend along on your inspection-another DIYer who may see things you miss
Run the shower at a comfortable temperature. Then, flush the toilet while you feel for any significant change in shower volume or temperature. A shower test is useful because while low pressure elsewhere is annoying, in a shower it's really annoying
To check drain performance, fill a bathtub with water and run the laundry room faucet. Then open the basement floor drain cover and watch the drain while someone empties the tub and flushes all the toilets. Look for a good flow of clear water-any significant change in the water level, any gurgling, bubbling, turbulence or bits of floating toilet paper means there may be a problem that can result in a nasty flood with sewage backup. Call in a drain specialist to do a video camera diagnosis
Homeowners can be more invasive than inspectors. You might remove a window casing to check for dampness in the wall, for example
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