There are a lot of things to look for before buying a house, and it’s good to get a basic checklist to go over while inspecting the house. It may be overwhelming, but this piece of property is your potential new dwelling, so ensuring its integrity will be beneficial for you in the long run. For good or bad, here is a list of 10 things to check before buying a house.
1. Is There Enough Storage Space?
When purchasing a house going over the storage space will help you in the future. Often times, moving involves the transfer of a lot of items, and, if you lack space, you may end up spending several weeks/months in boxtopia.
2. What Condition is the Roof in?
Depending on if the house you are buy is relatively new or getting on in its years, you should inspect the roof for damage. If you can, check the attic for water damage; that will be a good indicator for roof damage as well. Even if the house is older, the roof may be newly refurbished, so check the tiling if possibly to asses the quality and condition.
3. How Many Power Outlets Are There?
Check the general wiring and location of outlets. If there aren’t enough outlets, your house may end up looking like a jungle full of extension cobras. Make sure you have an understanding of what is going on in the electrical unit before purchase as well. Some homes have a higher tolerance for electrical current than others, and you don’t want to be constantly shorting out your circuit board or blowing fuses.
4. Is the Plumbing Working Properly?
Have an idea of what the state of the plumbing is. You can do this by checking any available basement or garage space as you can often find pipes and water heaters in those locations. Make sure plumbing under the sink and in bathrooms are correctly done and see if the water turns on with the ample amount of water flow.
5. Check for Mold
Mold places everyone in the house at a health risk so check everywhere that water is typically present for mold, especially, garages, bathrooms, and kitchens. In the kitchen check the walls around cupboards for water damage or discoloration. Open the cabinets to see if there is discoloration in there as well. Above all, check ventilation system in bathrooms and every corner in bathrooms, and showers. Mold can hide behind tiles even if you can’t obviously see it there.
6. Is There Sufficient Draining?
When checking the house, make sure that any rain water can sufficiently be drained from the area. A drain in a basement would be good for accidental flooding in case of a broken pipe as well.
7. The HVAC & Insulation
Check the temperature during an inspection. Good insulation will keep a house relatively cool on a hot day and warm on a cold one. This can lower costs of HVAC. If the insulation isn’t up to snuff, than make sure the HVAC can handle the size of house it connects to.
8. What are the State of the Walls & Structural Integrity?
Make sure there aren’t any cracks in the walls and foundation. That can lead to a hole on the floor or ceiling. Check the level of structure in the floor; in other words, how much doesn’t it squeak, bounce, or bow as you walk or jump on it.
9. Yard Space?
Check the state of the yard before purchase. You don’t want to buy it and find several rodent burrows and a massive red anthill later. Are there old nails, cement patches, or ill fitted backyard addition you will have to renovate or remove?
10. Where are the Facility Locations?
Where are the locations of the kitchen and laundry room in proximity to the rest of the house? Is there a guest bedroom next to the laundry room keeping guests awake? Is the bathroom oddly placed for getting in and out? If it’s a two story is there a bathroom up stairs? Making sure you are happy with the layout is a good start to any heavenly home.
These are just a few things new homeowners should look out for when purchasing a new home. Of course, there are more, but these basics should help you keep on track when it comes to looking into your new humble abode.