Run A Few Simple Checks Before Home Buying

Not all home sellers are completely truthful about the condition of their property. Unfortunately, hiring a professional inspector can get expensive if you are viewing multiple homes. But don’t worry because a potential buyer like you can do a bit of inspecting yourself and here are indicators showing what house to avoid buying.

Start by checking out the neighborhood. Is the number of homes and businesses dwindling? Talk to your potential new neighbors and ask what the area is like. Look at the land as well. If the land slopes downwards towards the property, there is a chance that the foundations have been or will be damaged by flowing rain water. You should also look into whether there are any weird smells in and out of the property. Bugs and insects are a bad sign as well. If there have been bugs or insects, people in the street are likely to know about it, so ask them.

There are also a number of things that can cause a lot of damage to a property that are almost irreparable. Make sure you check for signs of the presence of water damage, pest damage, asbestos, mold and faulty wiring. But it often takes a professional eye to actually spot these problems. The current owners may not even know that the problem is there. Those home owners that do know the issues are there will try to keep them hidden. By simply ensuring the property is very clean and no sockets are used unnecessarily, you are not able to see the problems are there. Besides organizing a professional home inspection, what you can do is speak to members of the community. They will quickly tell you whether any of these problems have occurred in the area in the past. Generally speaking, major problems like pests, water damage and mold will occur in more than one property.

After all is said and done, only you can truly decide whether or not you want to purchase a home. But do make sure to exercise due diligence. Always make sure a professional inspector has looked over the property first. If an inspector does find significant issues, you can decide whether you want to leave the property behind, or whether you want to bargain and bring the price down substantially. However, always be careful that you do not get tied into a money pit.