Owning your own home is a dream many people would love to fulfil. Every individual has a particular home in mind with certain features such as number of rooms, number of bathrooms, number of balconies, the landscape as well as other amenities.
When it comes to buying a home, care needs to be exercised so as to ensure that you get what you are paying for. House hunting can be difficult and you might miss a few problems in a home you have purchased.
Below are 5 things you need to inspect before buying your home.
Exterior section
Before stepping into the house, you need to take a look around the exterior part of your home. Starting by examining the foundation which is an integral part of your home. Without the foundation, your home will be weak. Check for evidence of water or a sloping foundation.
Inspect the driveway, the walkways as well as the drainage system. You need to ensure that no cracks or crumbling is present. The landscape should not be overgrown and unkempt. Decks and porches should not have signs of decay or termite damage.
Windows and doors
Windows and doors not only provide entrance to guests and light into your home but they help to prevent unauthorized users from getting in. You need to inspect your windows and ensure that no moisture or rain water can find its way through the window panes. For the doors, you need to ensure that the frames are strong and the doors are sturdy therefore offering you protection.
Inspect your basement
When inspecting the basement, the first thing you need to check is moisture entry. Signs for moisture entry include white mold on the floor or even the walls. You can also use your nose to smell for dampness in the room. If plumbing has passed through the basement, you need to check for any leaks. Inspect the foundation for leaking as well as integrity. Finally, you need to know if the basement has been flooded recently or previously.
Plumbing and electrical systems
You need to hire a plumber and electrician to check the integrity of pipes as well as electrical wires. Inspection starts at the junction box where circuit breakers are located. Next, the expert will check power outlets and for any wires protruding anywhere. Check for any leaks in the plumbing system especially around the kitchen, bathroom, toilet and any other room.
Interior section
You need to have your walls, ceiling and floors checked. If there is any evidence of leaking or water damage, restoration should be done. You need to walk all over the floors to check for spongy or weak areas. If there are any cracks, professional repair should be done. Check to see if your floor is sloping to one side or not.
