Palm Beach House Buyer – First Time Homebuyer’s Guide To Self Inspections

Posted on | September 25, 2009 | No Comments

Palm Beach House Buyer – First Time Homebuyer’s Guide To Self Inspections

You want to avoid any major surprises when you’re considering a new home purchase so contracting with a professional home inspector can alleviate much of the stress and concerns about your prospective home early in the home buying process.

However, you aren’t required to conduct an official home inspection until after signing the initial contract, so it’s a good idea to learn as much as possible about the condition of the home by having an honest discussion with the seller, and even performing your own ‘mini’ inspection where you can check for basic structural defects or potential problems.

Sellers usually allow prospective buyers to check the condition of the property

Sellers usually allow prospective buyers to check the condition of the property before any contracts are signed. This can give the buyer some bargaining advantage during negotiation since the buyer is already aware of any damages the property has acquired through time. ‘The Smart Consumer’s Guide to Home Buying’ advocates the use of checklists and taking a note of all known issues regarding the property. The book further explains that conducting an informal inspection is very beneficial to homebuyers, especially those who are considering buying a house that needs renovation.

You need a checklist in inspecting the house to ensure that you cover all important aspects that you need to look at. The information you gather from this checklist can then be used to create a written report to help you in assessing the overall condition of the house. Here are some important matters to include in your checklist:

Know the age of the house

Know the age of the house – Know the exact date when the house was built. You must also check if there are any renovations or upgrades done on the home, when they took place and if the house’s blueprints are still available.

Inspect the house’s foundation – Check if there large cracks around the home and basement. You should also check for water or weather related damages. Ask the seller if the house ever experienced or experiences weather related problems in various seasons.

Inspect the house’s interior for flaws

Walls should be even and free of cracks. Check if you can manipulate the doors with ease. All water entry areas should function properly and keep an eye out for mold and mildew infestations. Take a note of noticeable cracks and corrosions. You might also want to take a snapshot of problems that really stand out.

Inspect the exterior of the house – Check if all windows and doors move smoothly and if these are properly insulated. Inspect the sidings of the house. Look for signs of deterioration.

Examine the heating and air conditioning system

Query the seller about the average cost of operating these systems in a month. You may need to have a new system in place if the old air conditioning system is already inefficient.

Take all the information you gathered and create a written inspection report. You may also use a digital camera or camcorder to take pictures or video clips that you can review later. Video clips and pictures will allow you to document your inspection in more detail. These visual documents may also give you additional negotiation leverage.

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