Insider Tips on What to Inspect Before Buying a Home

Buying a new home can be exciting and scary for first-time homeowners. You are making the most important investment of your life, so you need to be completely sure you are getting a good deal. While sellers are supposed to disclose any major problems with the house, they are not always completely honest. This is why it is vitally important to thoroughly inspect a new home before deciding to purchase. While you would ideally inspect the whole house, these are the four things you absolutely need to inspect before agreeing to buy a new home.

Plumbing

It doesn’t take an expert to check for leaks in the plumbing. Water stains, mildew, and sagging floors are all major signs of a faulty plumbing system. It may seem weird, but you should also flush every toilet and turn on every sink in the house. Lower water pressure is a sign of a serious plumbing issue, and this is simply the best way for a novice to inspect the water pressure. You will also want to look at the ceilings, walls, and floors for signs for water leaks and damage.

HVAC

The heating and air conditioning system is one of the most important aspects of a house. Nobody wants to survive a freezing cold house, or suffer through sweaty summers. Your home’s heating and air conditioning units are intricate systems, so you will most likely need to call in professionals like Lowry Services: Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Cooling to check them out. In addition to making sure they are in working order, you should also ensure these units are large enough to properly heat and cool the house.

Basement

If the house you are looking to buy has a basement, then it should be one of the first places you inspect. If there are any major water leaks in the house, they will usually show up here first. Damp smells, rotting wood, and water spots are the three biggest signs of moisture in the basement.

Doors and Windows

You may already instinctively do this when looking at homes, but every door and window should be inspected to make sure they open close easily. You will also want to look at the seals on the windows to see if any air or water is enter the house.

Buying a house can be a stressful time, so don’t make it any worse by skipping the inspection. Performing a proper inspection puts your mind at ease and lets you know you are buying a great place to live for the foreseeable future.