Aspiring home buyers can often get carried away by "love at first sight" when they walk into what they believe might be the home of their dreams. After all, it’s easy to amplify all the things you love about the place – the sunset views from the back yard, the proximity to your job, the great wraparound porch…
But as a Member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network, I strongly advise buyers to hunt for the potential flaws in a home as well, which can often be much harder to recognize. No home is perfect and it’s important to have a good understanding of both the pros and cons up front.
The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), recommends that from the moment you drive up to a home, ask yourself:
- Is the home well maintained?
- Are the exterior walls straight or out of line?
- What is the condition of the paint, especially on the south and west sides, where sun exposure is greatest?
- Is the ground sloped away from the home for adequate drainage?
- What about the roof? Are composition shingles curling and lifting?
- Check out window and door frames; is the glazing putty dried and shrunken, allowing water and air to seep in? Is the wood decayed?
Once you get inside the home, ask yourself:
- Are there any signs of leaks, such as water stains?
- Are walls and ceilings straight and level?
- Do doors and windows open easily?
- Turn on the upstairs shower and the bathroom sink faucet, then flush the toilet. Does the flow from the shower lessen noticeably?
- Check the oil/gas/electric heating equipment. How old is it and has it been maintained?
- Look for evidence of termites on basement wood structure. Is there wood or paper debris? Do you see termite tubes or tunnels?
Becoming aware of potential flaws right away will save you frustration and money down the road as you can work with the homeowner on how to best resolve these issues. I would be happy to provide you with more insight into what you should look for when buying a home—just e-mail me. If you have friends and family members who are considering buying a home, be sure to forward this email to them so that they, too, can be prepared to ask the right questions.
Sincerely,
Matt