When buying a home it is important to have a home inspection because it can find the items that need to be repaired as well as any major flaws. A home is a huge investment but there are things to look for during your search to help reduce your risk.
- Everyone’s leaving-If there are many houses up for sale in a neighborhood, it pays to do some research to determine why. Have the property taxes skyrocketed? Has their been a string of vandalism? Are stores boarded up? Get the scoop from neighbors. Sometimes people get transferred and other times older homeowners are downsizing because their kids are grown. It pays to know why they are leaving.
- They’re hiding something-If something smells bad or all you smell are heavy fragrances it is usually a sign that the owners are trying to hide something such as pet odors, mold or other unpleasantries.
- Deferred Maintenance-Are there weeds in the garden or trees growing out of the gutters? The lawn hasn’t been mowed in weeks and there is debris everywhere; this may be a sign that the homeowner hasn’t been maintaining the property all that well. It makes you wonder what else they skipped.
- Old everything-If the wiring is old and the heating system or hot water heater are old too these may be signs of items that need to be replaced, upgraded or repaired soon. While you can have a water heater installed fairly inexpensively, new heating systems and upgrading electrical systems can be very costly.
- Drafty, Foggy or Broken Windows-A foggy double pain window could mean it is failing and needs to be repaired. Broken windows or locks that don’t work should be replaced. Drafty windows should be insulated during the winter to save on heat costs and eventually replaced with more energy efficient windows and replacement windows are not cheap.
Other items to look for include water stains, mold, broken appliances and structural damage. If you are planning to buy the home get it inspected by a certified, licensed home inspector. Here are some tips to finding the good home inspector. It is also important to check out the neighborhood at different times of day to get a feel for it. For instance, is their adequate parking? Are people hanging out on corners or is it the type of neighborhood where moms are out pushing babies in strollers?
Whether you’re looking for your first home or your fifteenth, I can help you find the home of your dreams. Give me a call at 1.856.582.0366.
