The house is spacious and inviting. Great kitchen space with updated appliances. You couldn’t have designed the living room better yourself. You can picture yourself sipping tea on the front porch or grilling on the back patio.
A trustworthy home inspection will ensure you’re buying a house in good condition. But before you get to that point, there are things you can look for on your house tour. Noticing these details up front will help you decide whether it’s worth getting attached to the property and pursuing this purchase.
Let’s look at five key areas you’ll want to notice early on, helping you make the best decisions.
Water Damage
A friend looked at a property that had residual damage from an overflowing water heater. Thankfully, the damage to the flooring was obvious. But not all water damage is easy to notice.
Taking a close look can save you from expensive headaches and hassles later on:
- Look under sinks and around appliances.
- Check ceilings, floors, windows, attics and basements.
- Look for stains and discoloration, paint bubbling or peeling, floors buckling or warping, and any signs of mold.
- Be attuned to musty smells and signs of corrosion around pipes.
- Visit in the rain to check for any current leaks and to see how well the outside drainage is working.
By looking closely for any hidden signs of water damage, you can avoid getting into structural problems and costly repairs in your new home.
HVAC Conditions
Be sure to check out HVAC records to determine the age of the system, latest upgrades, repairs, and potential problems.
Listen for rattling sounds that would indicate the system is working too hard or not well. Test the thermostat and check the condition of vents and filter covers. Can you feel the air or heat blowing the way it should?
Visit at different times of the day. Pay attention to afternoon sun and shade. Planning to turn that corner room into your office? If that room gets too much sunlight, you’ll end up closing blinds and miss out on the beautiful vistas you like so much.
Pesky Pests
Imagine your first relaxing evening in your new house, and you discover the house is already occupied—by insects. It’s one thing for a stray bug to fly in through a frequently opened door, as happens with house tours. But you’ll want to check to be sure the house doesn’t have a larger pest problems.
Look closely for these possible signs of infestation or frequent pest visitors:
- Torn or damaged window screens.
- Droppings, stains, or shed wings and skins along baseboards and inside cabinets.
- Chew marks on wooden furniture or holes in wooden beams.
- Spider webs in hard-to-reach corners.
- Dripping faucets and backed-up drains that create a water source for pests.
- Rotting wood.
- Signs of pest nests, indoors or outdoors.
- Indication of pest traps or a large collection of pesticides.
Pests that have established a home can be hard to get rid of. Checking for signs of a pest problem early on can eliminate later expenses. You’re buying this house for you to enjoy, not to entertain all the neighborhood bugs and rodents.
Storage Space
When looking for a new house, storage space is often overlooked. But it can make or break your peace and comfort.
Before you start taking house tours, make a realistic assessment of how much storage space you need. Think of closet space, kitchen cabinets and pantry, garage. Take into account your current and future needs, as you might be in this house for a while.
Write out your storage plan, as if you were designing it yourself. With your list in hand, you can compare your needs to what you discover on your house tours. Resist the temptation to make too many compromises, thinking you can make do with fewer cabinets or shelves, or you can add a wardrobe or trunk. Your spacious new house will feel cluttered very quickly.
Noise and Traffic
Noise. It’s everywhere. Neighbors, traffic, radios, kids, dogs, dirt bikes, lawn care equipment. Even a house makes its own noise, with creaks, groans, loud appliances, and those tree branches that scratch the siding when the wind blows.
Think about what noises you’re used to where you live now. Are you willing to hear the same kinds of background noises at your new home? What about new and different sounds? Or are you hoping your new house will be quieter?
Do a house tour at different times of day and on weekends and weekdays. Get a realistic taste of the traffic and neighborhood sounds. Is the house near a highway, school playground, or cluster of businesses?
Imagine a lazy morning in your living room or sipping tea on that peaceful porch. Would those surrounding noises make you feel frustrated? Or would you feel at peace with the noise level—every day, well into the future?
Look Beneath the Surface to Enjoy Your New Home in Peace
Before you start picturing your afternoons in that spacious living room with the gorgeous view, double-check:
- No hidden water stains.
- HVAC system in good shape.
- No colonies of creepy crawlies.
- Realistic storage space.
- Comfortable noise levels.
Attention to details up front, on a house tour, will save you grief and expense later on. Go to each house tour prepared to do a realistic check on these items—before you fall in love with the property. A knowledgeable agent can help you make the best decisions and find your perfect home.
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Janet Eriksson 