Buying a home is one of the most important purchasing decisions you can ever make in your life. Therefore, a lot of care must be taken to ensure that your desired property is in good condition.
Statistics show that about 70% of homeowners have at least one regret about their home purchases. Fortunately, you don’t have to do it alone. You need to work entire team of professionals to make the right decisions.
Even though home inspections are not compulsory, conducting one is always better, especially if you buy a home for the first time. So, what should you look out for during an inspection? Here are a few areas worth considering.
1. Condition of Your Roof
Another area you must consider is your roof, including its existing state and what types of work have been done on it over time. You also need to look out for roof leaks and identify what could be causing leaks, if any.
You must also ask what type of roof shingles are on the home, as that can inform you or give you a clue on how old it might be. Some roofs are more durable than others, and knowing what type of shingles your roof has might give you an idea of how much it would cost to maintain them.
2. The Strength of Your Foundation and Drainage
An important area you need to focus on is the state of your potential home’s foundation and drainage system. For this, you will need to work with a qualified home inspector who will check for any cracks and give an accurate report on the condition of your foundation.
You must also walk around your home’s exterior to inspect its drainage system. Signs that indicate that your potential house might have a drainage issue include stagnant puddles of water.
Another thing to look out for is its grading, and ensure that the grade slopes away from your potential home’s foundation.
3. Heating and Cooling
You will need to work with an HVAC professional to ensure that your potential new home’s heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning system is at its optimum. There are several factors to consider when inspecting a home’s heating and cooling system.
Its age, for example, is something you must strongly consider, as it would determine how long it can last. You must check to see if they’ve been regularly maintained and serviced, so feel free to consider this.
If your potential new home comes with a water heater, it will help to know the age and condition of the heater, so keep this in mind.
There are several other areas around a home that you must check out when buying, but these three are extremely important. Don’t forget to ask questions and double-check all these areas before buying. The goal is to find a home that provides comfort and does not let you regret your decision. Hopefully, you’ll consider the tips above to get the best results.