Inspection checklists are designed to improve the inspection process by providing staff with an easy-to-use template on the best practices to follow for that inspection. You will see that many different industries use inspection checklists when performing their evaluations and assessments required for the job.

This blog article covers some of the top use cases for inspection checklists and we have included links to the corresponding template you can use to get started for free. Here are some common examples covered in this post:

• Home inspections
• Commercial vehicle inspections
• Building inspections
• Safety inspections
• Equipment inspections
• Operational inspections

Home Inspection Checklists

Certified home inspectors use checklists in their inspections that guide home buyers and real estate agents when making real estate decisions.

The home inspection is a critical part of the home buying process. It helps ensure that all parties in a real estate transaction are confident that a home is in good condition. It also provides existing homeowners with an opportunity to make home improvements to avoid any deal breakers.

An inspection that reveals serious problems such as termites or asbestos can trigger an inspection contingency that provides potential home buyers with the opportunity to back-out of the purchase of a home.

The inspection will typically check many areas and elements of a home, including water heaters, downspouts, crawl spaces, HVAC systems, electrical systems, radon levels, water damage, and much more.

In this example, the purpose of a checklist is to help the home inspector by providing a process to follow when performing the inspection. This helps to ensure that the inspector can identify all potential problems and doesn’t overlook something important.

Home inspection checklists sometimes also have subtypes that are designed to help with more specialized and niche evaluations.

For example, a general home inspection checklist may briefly cover roofing, HVAC systems, or electrical systems. But a roofing contractor may have a more specific inspection checklist that helps evaluate the state of the shingles on the roof. An HVAC contractor may check for items such as airflow. An electrician performing an inspection may check wire splices, light switches, and other more specific items.

There are many different types of home inspection checklists depending on the use case, and you can find all of these examples and templates available in the GoCanvas app store.

Commercial Vehicle Inspection Checklists

Another important category of inspection checklist is for the commercial vehicle business. These checklists help companies that operate semi-trucks, motorcoaches, shuttle buses, limousines, fleet vehicles, work vans, and other commercial vehicles.

Commercial vehicles come in many different forms and have specific requirements related to what inspections need to be evaluated or the frequency in which inspections need to occur.

Checklists help these vehicle operators to ensure that:

• Maintenance occurs regularly
• Early warning of problems occurs
• Vehicles can operate on the road safely

These types of inspections look very different, depending on the type of vehicle. For example, a fire truck inspection checklist will include very different elements than a motorcoach checklist or limousine checklist. GoCanvas has many free examples of vehicle inspection checklists in our app store that can be used for your business as a template to get started.

Building Inspection Checklists

Inspectors of non-residential buildings or multi-family residential buildings use checklists for various purposes and at different stages of the building’s life.

Some building checklists are most effective during the construction process or immediately following the construction of the building. These ensure that vital elements of a building are working correctly, and everything has been built properly. Here are some common examples of building checklists:

• Electrical inspections use checklists to ensure the proper installation of electrical panels or sprinkler systems’ operational ability.
• Regular maintenance use inspections on air conditioning systems or septic systems for functional buildings.
• Exterior inspections are performed for items such as rotted wood to ensure facades are visually appealing to visitors.
• Safety and equipment inspections occur for things like fire safety inspections to check exit doors, exit signs, fire extinguishers, first aid kits, sprinkler heads, and other important safety elements.

You can find more examples and templates of building inspection checklists here.

Equipment Inspection Checklists

Inspection checklists are used by different kinds of businesses that operate equipment. This applies to businesses that are using heavy equipment or expensive, mission-critical equipment.

Inspection checklists promote the equipment’s long-term viability and operation, while also ensuring the safety of workers and equipment operators.

Technicians or workers use equipment inspection checklists at regular intervals (e.g., daily, weekly, monthly, or annually) to stay ahead of equipment malfunctions and failures. They help experienced maintenance personnel perform inspections and they also help less experienced technicians that don’t have specialized training and need to be prompted to check various items.

Equipment inspections can also help businesses identify when equipment may need to be replaced. Since specialized equipment can often take days or weeks to replace, it’s very helpful for businesses to know in advance so they can plan for any downtime that will occur.

For businesses that deal with expensive or sensitive equipment, these inspection checklists are critical for ensuring the longevity and reliability of equipment.

Safety Inspection Checklists

Safety inspection checklists are designed to check key elements that improve public safety and worker safety. These may sometimes overlap with commercial vehicle, building, and equipment inspection checklists.

In general, safety inspection checklists are meant to provide users with an opportunity to evaluate tools, personal protective equipment, fire extinguishers, forklifts, work areas, and other elements for potential hazards or mitigators for hazards.

There are many different types of safety inspection checklists that exist, but here are a few familiar examples:

• Hotel pools
• Overhead cranes
• Facilities inspection
• Food preparation and production

Safety inspections are powerful tools not only for promoting the safety of workers and the public, but they are also important tools for businesses to mitigate legal exposure and reduce risk. These checklists can highlight warning signs for businesses, prompting the installation of safety features such as guardrails or handrails, generating a need for evacuation plans, or helping to identify other corrective actions.

Operational Inspection Checklists

For some businesses, there are operational considerations that warrant regular inspections and checklists. Here are some common examples of operational checklists:

• Hotels and housekeepers use inspections to ensure rooms are properly cleaned and set up for guests.
• Supervisors for building janitorial workers use inspection checklists to ensure that cleaning items have all been conducted.
• Swimming pools and spas use inspection checklists to ensure that various maintenance procedures occur regularly.

There are countless examples of how businesses might use an inspection checklist to serve their needs. GoCanvas is a great option for creating your checklists. The platform is highly customizable for all types of businesses and the ability to create mobile forms will eliminate paperwork and streamline your operations.