You have been shopping for a home and you finally found one you really like. But you have some questions about the property.
How
do you make sure there are no unexpected maintenance or repair issues after you
purchase a home? Here are the answers:
Say you’re viewing a home
and are impressed with how it looks. The walls are freshly painted. Everything
seems bright and new. You’re considering making an offer.
Then, while standing on a
mat in the kitchen, you hear a squeak below your feet. You lift the mat and see
that some tiles are broken. Obviously the mat was there to, literally, cover up
that defect.
A few broken tiles are not a
big deal. But now you’re thinking, “What else might be wrong with this house?”
There’s no reason to worry
that every home will have maintenance issues hidden from view. However, it’s
smart to do your due diligence to ensure the home you’re considering is truly
as good as it looks.
One way is to have a professional
home inspector check out the property as a condition of your purchase offer. He
or she will inspect the home from top to bottom, inside and out, and point out
any issues you should address.
It’s also smart to ask
questions. Find out the age of certain features, such as the roof, furnace, and
appliances. Ask about any recent renovations, and determine whether they were
done by a professional or by the homeowner.
Most importantly, work with
a good REALTOR® who can provide you with information on the property that you
would have difficulty getting on your own. Your REALTOR® has a stake in making
sure you buy a home with your eyes wide open — knowing all the potential
maintenance issues you’re likely to encounter.
Comments
Post a Comment