What Should I Look For When Viewing A Home?
Looking for a new home is a serious undertaking and viewing homes can be overwhelming. Stepping into a home for a viewing can be chaotic and you may find yourself asking, “what do I look for?”
It can be hard to ignore the current occupant’s decor and cleanliness but it is in your best interest to try and put it aside as best you can and focus on the structure of the home as much as you can.
While you are in the home the biggest things to look at include…
Sagging Floors
What kind of condition are the floors in? What kind of floors are there? Floors can be renovated but they are also something that carries a lot of value and can be a really big selling point in a home.
The floors can also be a big tell of the overall structural health of the home itself. If the home has serious plumbing or structural issues the floors may have sagging or dipping near the bathrooms or wherever there is plumbing running nearby. Be sure to keep an eye out for that as well as any additional sagging as that may signify other structural issues.
Cracks In The Walls
Check the walls for cracks and fresh paint. If you spot a crack in the wall that is obviously not great and means that something is not right with the structure of the home and is causing movement.
Likewise, a fresh coat of paint means that something has either just been repaired or is being covered up because people are viewing the home. If you see a spot recently painted, ask what the issue was. Paint can cover up cracks or repairs but it can also cover termite damage which will become your problem if you were to purchase the home.
Water In The Basement
Basements may not be the greatest thing to look at but always take a peek when you are viewing a home to make sure there isn’t water lingering down there. A damp basement is never a good sign and can mean that pipes are leaking somewhere in the home. That kind of issue should be dealt with before the current occupant leaves and so you should look for that sooner rather than later.
Moisture
When you walk into a home, be on the lookout for moisture. Do the windows fog up immediately? Is there noticeable mildew or mold? Some homes have very poor ventilation and thus are very prone to mold. These homes can have widespread water damage and mold that is expensive or near impossible to get rid of. Take a look at the pipes and ceilings when you are walking room to room for excessive moisture to spot this issue.
Finding your next home can be stressful - but it doesn't have to be.
When it comes to real estate, you can Depend on Dakota.
Visit dependondakota.com or call 781-264-6410
