Here’s where you should focus your attention when viewing a potential home.
Cited below for your convenience are timestamps that will direct you to various points in the video. Feel free to watch the full message or use these timestamps to skip to topics that interest you most:
Drive through the area before or after viewing a home you like. Make sure you can easily access your favorite places, work, and school zone you want. You can change anything about a house, but you can’t change the location.
While you can change the layout of a home, it can get costly. Knocking down or adding walls can quickly add up. When walking the property, focus on the structure so you can save yourself in the long run.
Age & Condition of
The Seller’s Disclosure should have the age of the roof listed; if not, have your realtor check on the age. You can also look at the ceiling for any discoloration. This can be a sign of a leak in the roof. Replacing a roof is an expensive replacement after closing.
Similar to the roof, you will need to look at the age of the A/C unit. The date should be on the unit. If it’s not, ask your realtor, and they should be able to tell you the age. Also, be aware of how the home feels. If the thermostat reads 72º when it feels like 90º inside, there is concern about the shape of the unit.
The water heater will be near the A/C unit. Again check for the sticker with the date to see how old the unit is. This can be pricy to replace, so knowing that before buying can be beneficial.
The Type of
Certain brands are tough or more expensive to get insurance with. If you’re tight on your budget, this can make a huge difference. Check the panel brand; one of the most infamous brands is Federal Pacific. It’s not a big deal to change out a panel. But it’s important to know about it before buying so you can be prepared.
Septic is not bad, but you will need to do a special inspection for septic. If something were to happen to the septic system, that could be an expensive fix.
4:50- The condition of the pool (if applicable)
If the property has a pool, take a look at the condition. If the pool looks like it has rust at the bottom, that may tell you the pool needs to be resurfaced.
Additional Details
5:20- How much do some of these systems cost to replace?
6:15- Why none of these items are deal-killers
6:55- How paying attention to these items can help your inspection
How we can help you
The Nickley Group is here to help you through this process; you don’t have to do this alone. Having an experienced Realtor will help guide you through the home tours and point out things you may not have noticed. We see a lot of homes, have good contacts for trusted vendors, and want the best for our clients.
Give our team a call today to get connected with one of our trusted agents. You can reach us at 407-906-2456 or email us at info@thenickleygroup.com.