When considering buying a home, whether it’s new construction or an existing property, a home inspection by an engineer, builder, architect, home inspector, or other professional is always recommended. There are many areas of a home that are out of sight, but still critical, and a professional knows how to assess items like the electrical system, mechanical systems, roof, insulation, framing, water conditions, and more. . But, as a potential homeowner, here’s a list of items you can visually inspect or test for yourself in the early stages. It may be that some (many) items, in older homes, don’t meet all of these criteria, but then you can plan the cost of repair or replacement, if necessary, in your calculations. In a new build, things should be fine before you move in. Prepare a to-do list (a list of needed repairs) for the builder of items that need to be repaired or corrected before you close and move in. My recommendation is to make repairs or corrections before closing. Once your money is in someone else’s hands, the incentive for them to do the work decreases significantly.
Outside:
Base – check for cracks or gaps around doors and windows. Look for signs of erosion near downspouts or areas below roof runoff. Check during a storm to make sure water is not backing up into the house and that there are no puddles near the foundation.
sprinkler system – If the patio has a sprinkler system, turn it on if possible and check that the sprinklers are working, that the water pressure seems adequate.
Walks and walkways – Check that paths, steps, terraces, driveways, and pavers are not cracked, uneven, do not retain water when it rains, and appear to be in good condition.
Grass – Check the lawn for large dead spots or yellowed areas that could indicate problems if there is an underground septic field.
Death way – check that the exterior walls have no nicks or crevices, that any holes in the exterior for pipes or cables have been perfectly closed with caulking, flashing or other sealing materials.
Windows and doors – check that windows and doors appear to be in good condition and that they open and close smoothly. Understand if the windows are a single pane of glass (in older homes) or a sealed two-pane system in newer homes. If the house has an insulating glass system, check for moisture between the two panes, as this could indicate a broken seal. If the windows are single pane, ask if there are shutters and screens for them. Windows in poor condition can cause significant air leakage in the home and can be expensive to replace, especially if they are not standard size.
ceilings – Visually inspect roof (from below) for missing shingles, ridge vents, apparent waviness, gutter condition (plants growing out of gutters, a sign of lack of cleaning and maintenance).
water and sewage – Is the house connected to city water and sewer or does it have a well and/or septic field?
Mechanic
hot water heater, ovene – ask for age, repair/maintenance records, warranties and just check appearance
Electric – what amperage is the panel box? Will it need to be upgraded to meet your requirements? Is there already installed cable and internet throughout the house? In what state is the wiring in the walls? (Much of this requires professional evaluation.) But you can turn all light switches on and off to make sure they work and test all electrical outlets.
Heating and air conditioning – Understand what type of system the home has. is it gas or oil? Is there an underground oil tank? If there is an underground tank, you should be very sure that it is in good condition, as you could be responsible for major cleanup costs if the tank leaks into the ground. Are there radiators or a hot air central heating system with vents in each room? Does the house have central air conditioning or are there units in each room? If there are units in each room, how old are they and will they need to be replaced? Turn on the heat and/or air conditioning (if applicable) and leave it on for a while, check and make sure all radiators or vents are working.
Inside
ceilings – Look up at ceilings and look for signs of leaks from the ceiling or bathrooms above. Changes in color, the appearance of mold or stains or water stains can indicate a problem.
The essential – look for signs of water damage on the lower part of the walls: stains, color changes, warping of any shelving or furniture on its base. This could indicate intermittent flooding. Check for a sump pump. Many areas have high water tables and groundwater is well controlled through a sump pump
taps – open all taps and leave them open for a few minutes. This will test the pressure and flow of the water. If you turn on the heat for a while, you can make sure that the hot water heater is providing at least some hot water.
Smoke detectors – check that smoke detectors are installed throughout the house. They can be connected to a security system or run on batteries. Make sure they are working!
Kitchen – look at cabinets, cabinet doors, faces, hinges. Check if the cabinets appear to be level, if the doors are broken, stained, warped or damaged. Is it the style you can live with or will you need to replace the cabinets? Check floor. If it’s tile, check for cracks, which could be signs of settling or improper preparation under the tile.
accessories – verification of age (related to energy efficiency in refrigerators, washers, dryers and others), general condition and appearance. Is the laundry room in an acceptable location for you?
countertops – What is the material? All seams must be flush at the joints. Check for any wear, delamination, or warping on Formica-type products and for tight, clean seams on stone countertops. If there is a tile backsplash, look at the grout. Certainly in new construction, grout must be very clean, fully filled, tile faces must be clean, corners must be smooth and straight.
Walls – in new construction, the drywall must not be cracked anywhere, and the paint must completely cover all surfaces.
Floors – bring some marbles and place them on the floor in various places. If they roll, your floors are not level and you need to know why. Old houses often settle and the unevenness may have been there for many, many years and there is no danger or structural problem, but an engineer or home inspector, as mentioned at the beginning of this article, is very important to confirm. the cause. In a new house, the marbles should not roll and the floors should be level.