3 Things To Look For When House-Hunting
Buying a new home is a complex process. If you're in the market for your first home, you want to make sure that you don't make any mistakes. Overlooking potential problems could leave you facing years of headaches. Unfortunately, it's not easy to identify those problems, especially when you don't know what you're looking for. To help you avoid problems with your home purchase, here are a couple areas you should pay close attention to.
Safety Concerns
When it comes to purchasing a home, family safety should be one of your main concerns. While you're touring homes, be sure to check for specific safety features. If the home you're interested in is missing either of these safety features, talk to your realtor about adding them to the contract, should you decide to purchase.
Smoke Detectors
The first thing you want to do is check for smoke detectors. There should be working smoke detectors near the sleeping areas of the home, as well as one in the family gathering areas, such as the living room, or family room.
GFCI Outlets
GFCI outlets are the next safety feature you need to check. The home should have GFCI outlets installed in the kitchen, bathrooms, and other areas where electricity could come in contact with water. When working properly, GFCI outlets will shut off when danger of electrocution or electrical short is present.
Waterproofing
You never know when heavy rains are going to come through and cause water damage. Before you purchase a home, you should make sure that it's properly waterproofed.
Roofing
The roof is a homes main protection against water damage. When looking at homes to purchase, be sure you pay close attention to the roofing material. Look for signs of missing or damaged shingles. You should also check the flashing around the heater vents, or the fireplace – if the home has one.
Drainage
When checking for waterproofing, the first thing you should do is look at the slope. If the dirt is at a flat grade all the way around the home, you may be looking at a potential flood problem. The slope of the yard should allow water to drain away from the home.
Gutters
Rain gutters are another important aspect of residential waterproofing. While you're looking at homes to buy, take the time to inspect the gutters. Gutters should be clean and in good repair. The downspouts should be positioned away from the home so that water flows away from the foundation.
Don't buy someone else's problems. Use the information provided here to identify potential problems before you purchase your next home.
