AVOID A LEMON: KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR
WHEN PURCHASING A HOME

When you are considering buying a house or selling one, conducting a rundown of property items could make all the difference in the world. Although not all items will require costly repairs, some might, which is why it's important to be prepared. Before you head out to look at homes or before you put your home on the market, be sure to check out these items to ensure they are in proper working order:

• Look for settlement cracks on the wall, floor, or ceiling. Every home, at one time or another, will get a settlement crack, so if you find a few, there's no need to worry. However, if you notice major cracks, this could be a sign of foundational problems. Mark down the location of where you find cracks and make sure they are pointed out to an inspector to determine the degree of damage. If they are small cracks, they can easily be filled with plaster and touched up with paint.

• Look for leaks. If you notice any water damage marks on the walls, floors, or ceilings, this could simply be from a bathtub or toilet that might have overflowed, or, it could be serious and be due to a leaky roof or poor plumbing which could lead to black mould. Also, check the tile in the bathrooms and kitchen for any indication of behind the wall leaks, such as mildew or loose tileing.

• Open and close all the doors and windows as well. Listen for squeaks or sticking. In most cases, this is simply a matter of spraying some lubricant such as WD-40, but it could also be another indicator of foundation problems.

• If there is an outside deck, check for rotted wood, which could be a sign of termites or it might just be old wood that needs to be replaced.

• Check all electrical outlets. You can simply take a working nightlight with you to plug in for testing. This will tell you if any of the outlets are not working.

• Check the garage door, if applicable. Make sure it runs smoothly on the track and that the openers are in good working order.

• Search for pests such as termites or ants. The best place to search is around the foundation, wiring, pipes, and doors or windows.

• Look at the grading of the yard, both front and back, to make sure that run-off water flows away from the house.

• Look at the gutters to make sure they are properly installed and that water flows out adequately.

• Check the driveway to search for crumbling concrete, pockmarks, or holes that would need to be fixed.

• Have the roof examined by a professional. Make sure the turbans and plumbing vents are installed correctly to eliminate any leakage and that no portions of the roof need to be fixed or replaced.

• Carefully examine the heating and cooling systems. These can be high dollar expenses so it's important that they are running correctly. Often, these items are covered under a home warranty so if there is a problem, see if you have warrant coverage.

• If there are any fireplaces or wood-burning stoves, make sure that the chimneys are clear of debris and that the flues are working correctly.

• Caulking and weather stripping are also important. Improper coverage will cause air leaks into the home, raising utility bills and causing drafts.

The good thing is that everything can usually be fixed. The bad part is that some items are costly, which is why it's so important to make sure you keep operating systems of the home in good working order.

Hiring a good inspector is very important before buying a home and highly recommended. The inspector should find all of these items and your realtor should negotiate with the seller to ensure most or all repairs are taken care of prior to close.

If you are selling your home, having these things working properly will put you in a much better position of getting a good price out of your home and having it sell quickly as well.

For more information on this subject you can visit our report :

"11 Things you Need to Know to Pass Your Home Inspection"

Mark Linder
New Century Realty Group
Phone: (469)879-2960
Mark@MarkJLinder.com