other ways this makes you vulnerable. A seller’s agent might think you are unrepresented and attempt to take advantage of you. Let your agent do their job. If you come across a property that interests you, but your agent has not told you about it, it may not meet all your criteria. If you think you want to view it anyway, contact your real estate agent with the address and phone number. Your agent can arrange a proper viewing for you, with the owners absent and themselves on hand to help keep an eye out for possible flaws, as well as provide an emotionally-uninvolved perspective to balance out the rosy tint of excitement.
THE CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY
When assessing a home for potential purchase, there are important items to be on the lookout for, the primary one being the condition of the property. • Is the home structurally sound? Walk around the interior of the home checking the walls and ceilings for cracks. Hairline cracks are to be expected in some places, but larger cracks or an unusual amount of smaller ones may warn of problems to come. Check the exterior for cracks as well. Points at which extensions join are places to play close attention to, as cracks often occur there. Also look for loose or broken tiles or shingles on the roof or broken guttering, evidence of damage to the drywall, and weaknesses in the floors. If you do find something wrong, it is a perfectly legitimate question to ask how long it has been like that and it will be fixed. If you see major cracks or bowing walls, have a structural engineer assess the situation. • Look (and smell) closely for evidence of mold. Mold and mold damage is a major problem that will cost you a lot to 39
Powered by FlippingBook