Avoid Common New Home Problems by Looking Out For the Following Issues
Take the stress out of your house hunt here in Beverly, MA by being proactive with your due diligence. Your home is probably your biggest purchase, and it could be a financial nightmare if you realize after the fact that there are costly repairs that your home needs that you didn’t budget for.
You can reduce this risk by following a process prior to your home purchase. So once you’ve found a home that suits your tastes, needs and budget, here is what you do:
Is the Home Insulated?
Don’t forget; the costs of home ownership aren’t just about making mortgage payments. One of the biggest costs that you’ll shoulder is your heating bills.
You can reduce these costs significantly by ensuring that your prospective home is well-insulated. Insulation is essential to act as a barrier against the heated air inside your home from escaping.
Pay particular attention to exterior walls, the garage, the attic, the crawl space and the foundation. These are all potential trouble spots for heat leakage.
Test the Switches
It’s not a high-tech test, but turning on and off all the light switches can alert you to potential problems. Do any of the switches control power outlets or the other way around?
You may have some wiring issues that you’ll want to explore further because there could be a fire hazard. Check fans as well. Also test the A/C, thermostat, and the furnace.
Realizing that these important housing components aren’t working after you move in can be expensive. If appliances are included with purchase price of the home, be sure to double check that they are working too.
Why You Should Never Skip the Property Inspection
Having a property inspection is probably one of the wisest investments that you can make as a homeowner. Firstly, if your offer is contingent on a sound property inspection, it gives you an out if there are glaring deficiencies.
A property inspection can alert you to problems that you can’t see with the naked eye, like structural deficiencies, interior damage and pest problems.
Housing components age over time and eventually need replacing or repair; a property inspection can help you budget for these repairs over time.
A property inspection is also a negotiating tool because if you discover things that need repair, you can amend your offer to reflect the cost of attending to them.
