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| You've just found what you think is the home of your dreams. But after you see it, you need to make a thorough inspection so your dream home doesn't turn into a nightmare. It's important to look beyond the well-proportioned rooms and lovely landscaping to be sure there are no structural flaws that will be costly to repair. The older the home, the more important your checklist will be. Here's a starting list for you when inspecting the home – before you sign a contract to buy! |
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Doors |
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When you open the front door, does it drag on the carpet or open cleanly? If the door does drag, that may mean that the home is not 'true' on its foundation. Do all the doors have deadbolt locks? This could affect the price of your homeowners insurance. |
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Flooring |
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If the flooring is wood, listen for any squeaks and whether there is any ‘give' underfoot – a potential sign of problems. |
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Appliances |
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If any appliances, such as a stove and refrigerator come with the home, check them out thoroughly. Turn on all the stove burners. Turn on the oven and check its heating. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer will quickly reveal whether the thermostat in the oven is broken. Thermostats are costly to replace. |
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Check out the refrigerator too, including the door seals to ensure they are free from mold and seal tightly. The quickest way to check for tight seals is to place a dollar bill between the seals and shut the door. If it slides out without resistance, the seals will need replacing. |
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Windows |
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Especially if you are in an extreme climate, determine whether the glass panes are double-hung or have other thermal insulating qualities. |
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Environmental Systems |
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'Environmental systems' is another word in the real estate community for heating and air conditioning systems. If a furnace needs replacing, it could cost up to $1,000 to replace and install. Ask the age of both units and ask to see the owner's maintenance records. An ill-maintained unit can be costly to repair. |
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Water Heater and Water Pressure |
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If you're buying a home built before 1980, it might have galvanized pipes, which tend in some areas to become coated with selenium and other minerals over time. Regardless of the age of the home, check the water pressure. A tip-off to potential pipe problems is if there is good pressure in the kitchen but not in the baths, you may be faced with costly plumbing problems. |
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Walls and Ceiling |
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Look for any cracks in the plaster or recently patched areas. This could indicate that the home is settling unevenly on its foundation. Cracks in the ceiling can signal a leaky roof. |
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Roofing |
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If the home has a shingled roof, look for any damage, such as peeling shingles. Ask the age of the roof. |
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| Negotiation Room on Home Pricing |
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| There are many other things you may want to check which can affect the price of the home. Any of the problems listed above could be costly to repair, and you must factor those costs into determining whether this home is a good investment for you. |
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Your personal check of the home is only a starting point. Although a professional home inspection is not a requirement for loan approval, having the property reviewed by a professional can be a good idea especially if you are not a mechanical expert. See Home Inspections for more details. You may want to make your offer contingent on a professional home inspection. If there are any major problems, you can request that the seller fix the problems before you close on the sale. |
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| Copyright © 2006
Midwest Mortgage Capital. All Rights Reserved. |
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