...especially if you’re doing it alone. The stress of remembering to check every aspect of your possible new home can often make you forget about vital areas of the space that need inspection. Refresh your memory on the sometimes overlooked—but necessary— spots you should check.
1. Check
the Roof
⁃ How old is it? Newer roofs
have a life expectancy of only 15-20 years, and a replacement is a very
expensive process. If the property has roof that is more flat than sloped, ask
about the material used to seal it.
2. How
is the attic?
⁃ Used mostly as a storage
space, it’s a generally overlooked area, though an important one. How much
space is up there? What is the condition of the floor? Where can you access it
and how easily? Is there insulation? Would it be useful to convert it to
another room?
3. Inspect
the plumbing
⁃ This seems like a no-brainer,
but buyers sometimes forget to run through all the steps of checking this part
of the house, aside from asking simple questions. Run all of the taps to check
the quality of the water, as well as the pressure. How old are the pipes? Are
they insulated? How old is the boiler? Are there any lead pipes which haven’t
been replaced yet?
4. Which
direction does the house face?
⁃ This will affect not only
your heating and cooling bills, but also your mentality. Knowing whether a
house will be warm and sunny or cool and dark can make all the difference. Take
a look at the surrounding foliage and other structures, and don’t be afraid to
use that compass feature on your phone!
5. Turn
On The Heating and cooling systems
⁃ This might feel like the most
important step you might have missed when you’re sweating on hot summer days or
struggling to keep warm in the winter.
6. Look
under the carpet
⁃ Are there hardwood floors
under there? Is there mildew? Is it obvious that the sellers were pet-owners?
Check the closets to see if the flooring was originally wood!
