Buying a home is exciting. It’s easy to get caught up in the romance – and the décor ideas – when touring a home. But it’s important to make sure that the home’s “bones” are all in good shape. From windows to drain and the HVAC system, there are several things you should check before buying a home.
When touring through the home, do more than just glance out the windows to check the view. Open all of the windows to make sure they work properly. Check them for cracks and signs of wear while you’re at it.
Windows that stick or don’t open properly may be a sign of foundation damage. Remember that windows are expensive to replace. Take the time to make sure they all open and close properly.
It’s easy to get caught up in the floors, kitchen, and bathrooms of a home and completely forget about the simple things that make a home tick – like the plumbing. Check the drains in the home, and if you can, check the sewer.
Far too often, people buy homes and soon find out that there’s a clog in the line. Roots may be growing into the pipe, there may be damage somewhere in the line, or the pipe may have collapsed completely. Either way, test the drains out to see how well they work.
If you decide to move forward in the buying process, you might consider having a sewer camera inspection done so that you can see if there are any blockages or if there’s damage somewhere in the pipe.
While you’re testing the drains, check the faucets. Make sure they all work properly. Don’t worry if they look outdated; faucets are easy to replace. But you want to make sure that when you move into the home, all of the sinks are working properly.
It may sound silly, but have a glass of water while you’re there. Even if the home is connected to city water, the pipes may be so old that they give the water an off taste. Or, you may wind up with a little something “extra” in your glass (yuck).
Tasting the water will at least let you know whether you’ll need to install a whole-house filter to enjoy clean, great-tasting water.
Turn on the heat and air conditioning to make sure the home’s HVAC system is running properly. Check to make sure that all of the vents are working, too.
If you’re looking at a home in the summer when the weather is warm, it’s easy to overlook the HVAC system. But you’ll regret not testing it in the winter if the system breaks down or stops working properly.
If the home has carpeting, pull it back to see what’s underneath. Maybe the home’s original wood flooring is underneath the carpet. Maybe you’ll find mold or mildew. Either way, you’ll know what you’re up against and can act accordingly – or walk away.
If you are interested in even more home-related articles and information from us here at Bit Rebels then we have a lot to choose from.
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