Check metal for dents, bends, and straightness. Check foam plastic for resiliency and plastic stripping for brittleness and cracks. Make sure the weather stripping is securely held in place. Decorative shutters are fixed to the exterior wall on either side of a window. Check the shutter's condition and its mounting to the wall.
Functional shutters are operable and can be used to close off a window.
Check their operation and observe their condition and fit. Shutters close to the ground can be examined from the ground. Shutters out of reach from the ground should be examined during the interior inspection when windows are examined. In hurricane regions, check shutters to see if the shutter manufacturer has certified them for hurricane use. If they provide protection to windows and glass doors, determine if they have been tested for impact resistance to windborne debris.