A home is one of the biggest investments most people could make in their lives, and this makes it important to ensure that the home you want to buy is in a state that’s worth the cost you will pay for it. Have a look at five of the inspections you should do on a home before you buy it if you want to get the best worth for your money.
1. Roof
Both the people buying a home and selling one should know that a roof replacement can return about 60% of its value in a real estate sale, according to Forbes. This makes it important to look into the state of the roof of the home you want to buy. Have a professional roofer look at it and find out if it’s in a good state. If they mention any issues, remember that this cost may considerably inflate the amount of money that you have budgeted on spending on your home. Make your decision with this in mind so that you don’t come to regret your purchase soon after or suffer an inconvenience you would have liked to avoid.
2. Doors and Windows
The doors and windows of a home serve an important purpose when it comes to the insulation of a home. With improper insulation, it’s all too easy to spend a fortune on heating and cooling. This is because the air that you heat or cool can easily leak outdoors and be replaced with that outside, making it harder to maintain the temperature that you want to. When buying a new home, take time to thoroughly inspect the doors and windows and make sure that they’re not only free of leaks but that they all open and close the way they should.
3. Foundation
A home is basically only as good as its foundation is, and this makes it important to have the foundation inspected. It can cost a lot of money to repair, or even make the home have to be demolished and rebuilt completely if the issues go too deep. The fact that issues with the foundation can reduce the value of a home by between 10% and 15% should also motivate you to make sure that the foundation is solid. Check to see if there are any big trees too close to the house or if the ground near the foundation seems sunken, soggy, or squishy in any parts. These, as well as big cracks, are all potential red flags that you need to look into. Doing so can save you from making a bad decision and spending your money on a terrible house.
4. Electricals and Major Appliances
The electrical system of a house is also extremely important, from light switches to power outlets. It should be easy enough to find out whether they are in a good state, after which you should check whether the electrical panel has fuses, circuit breakers, or both of them. Remember that outdated electrical systems can be risky and expensive to upgrade, so if you buy a house with old wiring systems, you should be mentally and financially prepared for the upgrade. If the sale covers major appliances like a washer, dryer, oven, and refrigerator, these should also be in good condition.
5. The Neighborhood
Finally, if you’re one of the 78% of home buyers for whom the quality of the neighborhood is more important than the size of the home, you need to make sure that you like what you see. For this, you may need to spend some time walking around the neighborhood to get a real feel of it. Make sure you know what it’s like during the day and the evening as well as on different days of the week if possible so that nothing takes you by surprise once you move in.
In these five ways, inspect any home that you want to buy and make sure that you like what you’re getting.