08 Oct Buying Your New Home? Here are 10 Important Things You Need to Check
Buying a new home is an exciting, life changing experience. However, just like buying a used car, you need to take a closer look at the home before you make a purchase. Here are 10 of the most important things that you need to check before buying a home:
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Make sure all windows work
Window replacements can be expensive. To make sure that you won’t have to worry about dealing with a window replacement at an inopportune time, make sure that they work before buying a new home.
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Run the heating and cooling system
A broken heater or a cooling system is a big problem. As such, it is imperative that you make sure that both the heating and cooling systems work.
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Look under the carpets
Carpets absorb a lot of moisture and they are prime locations to foster mold and mildew growth; mold can make a house unsafe to live in. You cannot always tell whether or not a carpet has suffered mold damage by looking at its surface, so be sure to lift it up and look underneath of it.
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Check the walls for water damage
Water is the most destructive force that a home can encounter. When water invades parts of a home, it can do so much damage that entire walls will need to be replaced. As such, it is important that you keep an eye out for water stains and corrosion.
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Open the cabinets
Mold and mildew love to hide inside of cabinets, so be sure to take a good look inside the home’s cabinets.
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Look for large cracks
Extremely long or wide cracks could signal some serious structural problems. If you see cracks, have a qualified inspector take a look before purchasing the home.
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Check the electrical panel
Damaged wires and missing connections not only signal electrical problems within a home, but they are also a fire hazard. That is why it is important for you to open the electrical panel and make sure that everything is okay.
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Make sure that the plumbing works
If your plumbing doesn’t, then you could have a big, expensive problem on your hands. Make sure that your faucets are running and all of your toilets flush with no problem.
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Inspect the home’s downpipes
You need to make sure that your storm drains work properly, because if they don’t, it could lead to flooding. Storm water soak wells, a critical part of a storm drain system, are very expensive to replace, so pay close attention to these.
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Be on the lookout for sagging ceilings
A sagging ceiling could signal problems ranging from improperly installed insulation to major water damage. Make sure to look out for this before buying a new home.
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