Definitely agree on checking those anchor bolts—people forget about them until it’s too late. I’d add: look for any diagonal cracks above doors or windows, too. Sometimes it’s just cosmetic, but in older homes, it can point to shifting that needs attention. And yeah, water heater straps are non-negotiable.
Title: How to spot if your home is actually quake-ready
Anchor bolts and water heater straps are definitely the basics, but I’d say a lot of folks overlook the crawl space. If you’ve got one, get down there and check for cripple walls—those short wood walls between the foundation and the floor. If they’re not braced with plywood shear panels, that’s a weak point. I’ve seen houses where everything looked solid up top, but the cripple walls were basically just old studs and some cobwebs. Not good.
Diagonal cracks above doors and windows are worth watching, but I wouldn’t panic unless you see them getting bigger over time or if doors start sticking. Sometimes it’s just old plaster settling, but if you see fresh cracks after a small quake, that’s a red flag.
Another thing: look at your chimney if you have one. Unreinforced masonry chimneys are notorious for coming down in a shake. I had a rental where the chimney was basically a pile of bricks waiting to happen—ended up retrofitting it with a steel brace and some internal reinforcement. Not cheap, but better than dealing with a pile of rubble (or worse).
One more detail—check that your gas shutoff valve is accessible and ideally has an automatic shutoff. After a quake, gas leaks are a huge risk. I’ve seen people stash stuff in front of the valve without thinking about it.
Bottom line, don’t just stop at the obvious stuff. Walk the perimeter, poke around the crawl space, check the attic for any weird framing or old repairs. It’s not glamorous, but catching these things early saves a ton of headache (and money) down the line.
