Before making the commitment to a long-term mortgage inspect your new property thoroughly.
Buying a home can be the most important decision made over the course of a lifetime. Finding the right home location and price takes patience, determination and sometimes just a little luck. Since the vast majority of homeowners finance the purchase for 15 to 30 years, making sure the house is fit to occupy before assuming the long term debt is of paramount concern. Inspecting the property and determining the condition of the home and lot is something every prospective homeowner should do whether there is a professional inspection report available or not.
Inspection
Inspecting a property is more than just looking at things and seeing if they appear solid. Inspecting also means examining the house's foundation, roof, walls and floor for obvious damage from water, wear or termites. A termite report is usually required for closing on a mortgage but looking under the house and banging baseboards for soft spots is not a bad idea.
When inspecting a prospective property keep one thing in mind: everything you own and everyone you love will be located in this house. It must be sound, safe and worth every nickel borrowed to purchase it.
Utilities
The utilities include electricity, water, sewer and possibly gas. Don't worry about the phone or television cable---they are the responsibility of the provider. Turn on all the lights switches to see if they work. Have a light bulb to use if none are installed. Have a small appliance to plug into all wall sockets. Turn on the water in every spigot and flush every commode. If there is a gas stove make sure the pilot light works and the burners ignite. Do the same for the hot water tank.
Structure
Go in the attic and look at the roof from underneath. Check for water stains. Feel for any water damage. If the house has a crawlspace go underneath and examine the joists. Is the house level? Any excessive settling? Check for any cracks in brickwork. This can indicate settling. Look across sheet rock wall and look for uneven areas. Again, this can reveal quick patches of any cracking from deep settling.
Lot
Examine the lot for water run off. Determine if rising rainwater can come under doors. Look for areas where there can be standing water. Standing water can affect wood siding and collect under the house. It's easy to like a yard when it is dry but it's important to know how it appears after three or four inches of rain in a few hours.
Heating and Air Conditioning
Check the heat and air conditioning. Make sure the air coming from the air conditioner is at least 20 degrees colder than the room air. Use a thermometer. Also, heated air coming from vents should be at least 20 degrees warmer than room air. Check for any musty or bad smells from the vents. This can indicate mold and mildew in the ductwork. Finally, make sure all the wall thermostats perform correctly.
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