Here are six key things that homebuyers should check during an inspection.
We get a lot of questions about the home-inspection process, so today we’re going to share what we look for specifically when helping our buyers through their inspections.
In today’s fast-paced seller’s market, multiple offers and offers over asking price are still common. The last thing you want to do as a buyer is move into a home and immediately have to make a major repair. These are not the things you’ll want to fix, so we need to check them out upfront during the inspection. Here are a few areas of focus I recommend looking at when inspecting a home that you plan on buying:
1. Foundation. What better time than the spring to take a look at the home’s foundation to see if there is a problem.
"70-year-old electric panels should probably be replaced."
2. Roof. Roofs are so expensive to replace, so we want a roofing specialist to get up there and take a closer look at the roof’s condition. There have also been changes in roof insurance that are inhibiting some warranties.
3. Electrical panel. Some of these cute, mid-century houses are really neat, but their electrical panels are 50 to 60 years old, and many need to be updated.
4. HVAC system. You want the air conditioning to work, right? We’ll take a look at the system’s condition and age to see if it needs to be replaced.
5. Plumbing. It’s terrible when plumbing isn’t working in a house, so you want your inspector to key in on the pipes. We also recommend getting your sewer main scoped out, especially if you are purchasing a home built in the 1950s or 1960s. We have had clients who had to get old clay pipes replaced, and it cost them thousands of dollars to fix.
6. Windows. How old are your windows? The typical lifespan is around 20 years. If you’re buying a home with windows at the end of their lifespans, it’s worth considering that during the inspection.
These are the major things we want you to take a look at so you don’t have huge expenses pop up right after investing a ton of money into a home. If you have any questions about inspections or real estate in general, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email today. We look forward to hearing from you soon.