• Access opening restriction
• Water stains
• Standing water
• Efflorescence or white mineral deposits on concrete walls
• Horizontal or vertical cracks in concrete walls and floors
• Walls piers or columns that are out of plumb
• Sagging floor joists 
• Band joist or sill plate rot
• Untreated wood in direct contact with concrete
• Evidence of vermin or insects
• Apparent mold or fungus
• Crumbling mortar joints
• Previous repairs
• Dehumidifiers
• Rust at bottom of mechanical equipment
• Crawl space ventilationor lack thereof
• Evidence of wood-destroying organisms & damage
• Signs of daylight through the foundation
• Insulation vapor barrier installed toward heated area or installed backwards
• Waterproofing systems
• Standing water in the sump pit
• Exposed dirt floor or moisture evident
• Additional jack or pier supports
• Cold joints in poured concrete walls
• Rusted steel columns
• Missing column-to-beam connections
• Poor ventillation

Check both walls and slab floors for any signs of cracking. Any cracks ¼” wide or wider may be an indication of serious problems which are beyond the scope of our inspection. Such cracks require evaluation by a licensed professional engineer. Our inspection is designed to observe and report, not to analyze.

Diagonal cracks which grow in width, especially ones that are wider at the bottom than at the top indicate settlement.  Diagonal cracks over windows indicate a weak header.  Diagonal cracks in a poured concrete foundation which are fairly uniform in width or are hairline are most likely caused by shrinkage and, though they may allow water entry, are probably not a structural defect.

Horizontal wall cracks are typically caused by frost and are apparent at about the level of the frost line.

Sill plate anchor bolts should have 2" washers, be no closer then 3 inches from the end of the sill and no further away than 12" from the end of the sill. In any section of sill material there should be no fewer than 2 per piece.

Observing the condition of items in the basement can tell you much... For example, check the bottom of the heating system if it sits on the floor. If it is rusted there may have been flooding or standing water in the past.