What to Look for When Viewing a House

Buying a home can be a tricky and lengthy process, and the moment you spot a house which appeals to you visually, you might feel tempted to make an offer then and there. However, appearances are the last thing you should rely on when investing in something as huge as property; during viewings, it is essential to look past the window dressing, and check a few key things before you decide to make the home owners an offer.

First Impression

First impressions matter a great deal, and if the home does not appeal to you at first glance, you are unlikely to change your mind after that. Look at the entire house from the outside with a broad, sweeping glance, and analyze the vibes you get. Is the house dirty, shabby, and in disarray? Is the paint peeling off the walls? Are the lawns wild and overgrown? These are all signs of lack of maintenance and clearly indicate that the current owner has not bothered with the upkeep of the property. If the appearance is this shocking, there are bound to be numerous problems beneath the surface too – signs of this sort should send off alarm bells in your head.

Kitchens and Bathrooms

Owning to their furnishings and the equipment that is installed in them, kitchens and bathrooms typically cost homeowners the most amount of money, and can be very expensive to renovate. For this purpose, it is best to buy a house which already has attractive, fully functioning kitchens and bathrooms. Closely inspect the plumbing fittings, tiling, cupboards, and benches – note their quality and age, and turn on all the taps, to check if they work and if there is proper pressure and drainage. It is also a good idea to keep an eye out for dirty water.

Rooms and Furnishings

If you plan to keep your furniture, measure it before the viewing, and bring along a measuring tape, to determine whether your furniture will easily fit inside the rooms of the new house.

Doors and Windows

Make sure all the doors and windows open and close smoothly, and that their paint is not flaking. Ensure that there are no gaps or cracks left around the edges when they are closed, as these could let in drafts. You will also need to check the quality of the wood – press it with your finger, and if it is soft and yields easily to pressure, you can safely assume that it is rotten.

Floors

Make sure all the floors in the house are even, solid, and smooth. If the floorboards are creaky, wrinkled, soft, or uneven, this means they are in need of repairs which are likely to prove expensive.

Storage Space

Does the house have enough space for you to store all your belongings? Check the size of the garage, and open up all the kitchen and bathroom cupboards, along with the closets in the bedrooms, to see if there is ample storage space.

Basement

Use your sense of smell when investigating the basement – does it smell musty or damp? Look for cracks in the floor, water leakage, or stains which might point towards a past flooding.

Water Leaks

Water leaks can do great damage to a house, and you need a keen eye to spot this. Weakened foundations, rotten wood, and mould and mildew are all caused by water leaks, and you will normally need an expert to spot all this. However, you can look for any bulges, puffiness, or stains on walls, as these are also signs of water leaks.

Appliances and Fixtures

It is essential to test out all the appliances that are included with the home, to ensure that they are in good working condition. Test everything, including the faucets, toilets, lights, the furnace, and the air conditioning and heating systems.

Services

Check that the home has power, water, phone and gas, and that all these services are in working order. A minimum of two power circuits and one light circuit is essential, and if the house was built after 1992, it should also have a safety switch. The key thing you need to look out for in regards to the electrical system is any exposed wiring, as this could point towards illegal wiring.

The Outside of the House

The exterior of the house is as important as the interior. Walk through the yard looking for soggy areas and depressions – these are especially undesirable when located near the foundations of the house, and could point towards poor drainage. You should also inspect the roof, and the walls, to see if any tiles or shingles are cracked or missing – these can be costly to repair.

Inspection

Finally, you should look into hiring a professional home inspector.  S/he will inspect the entire house, and let you know about all the problems in the house, as well as how much it will cost to fix them. A home inspection will also determine how much you are willing to pay for the house.