A property with structural flaws, electrical defects and a cracked foundation are every homebuyer’s nightmare — not to mention a money pit. But that’s not all that can go wrong when you buy a new home. Cut down your chances of buying a property lemon with these seven tips.
1) Check the Structure
The only safe way to avoid buying a house that’s almost on its knees is to get a home inspection and pest inspection conducted by a qualified specialist. In the meantime, pay close attention to the structure when you view a property. Cracking in the walls or plaster indicates subsidence, which is one of the most expensive defects to fix. New homes are not immune. Inadequate soil testing and hastily built foundations without proper grading can cause a new home to crack and fail.
2. Look for Water Damage
When water gets in to a property over a sustained period, you can expect major structural damage. Rust on the roof or guttering, sagging gutters, and wall paint that’s bubbling or peeling away from the walls usually indicate a leaking roof. Other signs of water damage include damp patches, discoloration, rotten skirting boards, peeling wallpaper, and the pervasive smell of mold.
3. Inspect the HVAC, Electrical, and Plumbing Systems
To check for rusting pipes or poor water pressure, just turn on the water and see what comes out. If the water is brown, you’ve got rust. If the water is gushing (or trickling), you’ve got water pressure issues.
When it comes to electrical, poorly installed or maintained electrical systems are a fire hazard. Older properties are particularly susceptible, but you should be on the lookout for dodgy wiring in a new home, too. Red flags include blackened areas around power points and flickering lights.
Finally, in regards to the heating and cooling systems, these are very high dollar expenses — So turn them on and check to see if they’re operating properly.
4. Get A Home Warranty
No house is perfect, even new construction homes. So ask the seller to buy a home warranty and write this into the purchase contract. I ask for a home warranty on every offer I write.
A home warranty pays out if your mechanical or electrical systems malfunction. Typically, it also covers the air conditioning, furnace, water heater, ductwork, telephone wires, plumbing, and electrical systems.
5. Check Out the Neighbors
A property in good shape can still be a lemon if the neighbors drive you nuts. Who wants to live next door to an all-night party animal, tire-squealing drivers, or the guy who parks a dumpster in the yard?
Check out the neighbors before you buy. Cruise the neighborhood at night and see what the people on the street are doing. Listen out for barking dogs and late night parties. Local store owners are good for gossip, so ask what they know about the street and the people who live there.
6. Talk to the Municipality
Building permits are required for just about every type of home improvement, from remodeling the garage, to adding a deck. Permits obtained over the life of the property indicates that the work was done by a legitimate contractor in compliance with local building codes. Conversely, a property that displays clear signs of improvement, such as new windows, but has no permit, is a red flag. There’s a risk that the work is substandard and will end up costing you money to fix or bring up to code.
7. Verify, Don’t Assume
If you’re moving into an area because you’ve heard it’s peaceful, has great schools, low taxes, low crime rates and so on, verify these assumptions. Otherwise, you may end up with freeway construction at the bottom of your street or find that your “low” tax bill is topped up heavily by special assessments.
Let your real estate agent know your needs and concerns and have her check out crime statistics, county records and key community information. After all, you can fix up a rundown property, but you’re stuck with its location.
