• Heating and electric — check for things like condition of the furnace, wiring, electrical panels and outlets, insulation, etc. • Plumbing — taps, faucets, toilets, pipes, should all be in good working condition and up-to-date. • Exterior — if you’re looking at small houses and townhouses, check to see if the outside is in good shape and well-maintained. You’ll also want to look at any cracks or crumbling in the outside walls and driveway, the siding, and landscaping if there is a yard.
PROPERTY HISTORY
This might not have been something you would have considered in checking out your new potential home, but the home’s history — sales history, length of time on the market, public records (age of home, mortgage history, previous sales, property deeds and taxes, liens, etc. — are all important pieces of valuable information that can save you money or prevent you from making a major mistake. Your real estate agent will play a big role here, too, as they can generally access more information than you could on your own — even if you’re technologically minded and can get some good research done online, your agent is an invaluable source of information!
VIEW AGAIN, BUT NOT ALONE
It’s actually good practice to view the home that you believe is “the one” — the new home that meets all your needs and hits most of your wants — multiple times. If you do this, especially with your agent alongside you, you are much more likely to discover certain things, positive and negative, if you come back with “fresh eyes.” Maybe you’ll notice something you didn’t before, which could sway your decision in either direction.
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