When it comes to finding a dream home that you’ve fallen in love with, it’s easy to get swept away by the features of the property. For many people, this results in neglecting to check certain areas of the home before making an offer and moving in. To ensure that you’re familiar with the condition of specific parts of the home, there are a few places to check before making a purchase.
1. Attic
Check for water problems that may be present in the attic while trying to smell for odors or damp smells that may be lingering in the air. The insulation in the attic will also reveal if water damage has occurred by examining the material and checking for mold.
2. Electrical
Have a professional check the electrical box to inspect its condition while also looking at the outlets throughout the home. The property should also have ground fault circuit interrupters to prevent shocks from occurring to residents.
3. Chimney and Fireplace
The chimney and fireplace may look like they’re in great condition to the naked eye, but an expert will be able to inspect the area for cracks or water damage that has occurred. Nothing can be worse than being in your new home on the first rainy day and finding some overlooked leak or water damage.
4. Garage
The easiest part to check for this part of the home is the door. Make sure the garage door is up to the quality as a bad door can lead to headaches in the future. The flooring of the garage should not have any cracks or stains, along with a garage door that functions properly when it opens and closes. Proper drainage should also be available near the foundation of the garage.
5. Basement
Even if you’re not planning on using a basement, it’s important to inspect the area for moisture problems that may exist. The plumbing should be checked to ensure that it’s in proper working order, along with a possible crawl space that may have cracks in the foundation.
6. HVAC
The HVAC system is crucial to inspect before purchasing a home to ensure that the size of the system is ideal for the square footage of the house. A professional will be able to test the HVAC system to ensure that it works properly or if any repairs need to be made.
When it comes to inspecting a home before it’s time to buy, there are a number of areas that are often ignored and can lead to serious problems if not remedied quickly. By hiring a professional and having different areas checked, it can offer peace of mind before purchasing the property and can even determine the true value of the home.
Meghan Belnap
Meghan Belnap is a freelance writer who enjoys spending time with her family. She also enjoys being in the outdoors and exploring new opportunities whenever they arise as well as researching new topics to expand her horizons. You can often find her buried in a good book or out looking for an adventure. Meghan highly recommends checking all around the potential home for possible problems like making sure the garage door is up to par with the like of what can be found from places like The Garage Door Co Ltd.