Buying a new house is such an exciting journey and home viewing is probably the most fun aspect of that journey. You might be wondering what you should look for when touring a home.
Is it the architecture? The bedroom layout? Is it the location of the property? Perhaps it’s the size of the garden?
One thing you should always remember to check is how well the house is insulated so that you don’t end up spending more money on heating and cooling bills.
When a home viewing you need to keep an eye out for anything that needs to be fixed, which is something that buyers agents, such as the ones that Top10RealEstateAgent here recommend. Doing so will save you a lot of money in the future.
If you need help with what to look for when a home viewing, this should be on your checklist:
Things That Shouldn’t Be Missed At A Home Viewing
The Flooring
The first thing is checking the floors. It’s a good way to check if the plumbing is done well or not. Keep an eye out for sagging or dipping near the bathrooms. Sagging in other parts of the house indicates that the structure of the house needs some work.
Also check floors that are covered up with carpet, tile, or laminate because these can cause additional problems if they are not examined properly. Use your smell to pick up hints of moldy or musty odor because this indicates wood rot.
You can expect to pay $7- $28.50 per square foot to replace flooring so you want to make sure that you thoroughly check the flooring when home viewing.
Plug Outlets
Always check the plug outlets of a house because doing so prevents mishaps in the future that can show up due to the electrical system including malfunctions and fires which are the main threat with a faulty electrical system.
To check if an outlet is good you need to set a multimeter to measure the voltage. You need to insert a probe into each slot and then read the line voltage measurement. A good outlet gives a reading of 110 -120 volts. If there is no reading then you know to check the electrical system.
The average cost to install or replace an electric outlet is $210 and a new one can cost as much as $485.
The Walls
The next thing is the walls. You want to check for cracks in the walls when home viewing. A crack in a brick wall indicates that there are movement and structural problems which is not a good thing.
Small cracks are not anything to stress over but big cracks that are discolored may indicate structural issues and leaks. You have to check the walls to know if you will need to fix anything within the structure of the home or if you need a paint job which is costly.
The cost of repairing or replacing an entire wall may cost you around $40 -$60 per hour by an 8-foot sheet of installed drywall. This includes the cost of mud, materials, and labor.
The Roof
When inspecting the roof you need to ask when the roof was installed and you need to request to see the warranty. Older homes have multiple layers of roofs and the possibility of finding something to repair is high.
Examining a roof when home viewing may be difficult if you are not an expert so definitely don’t hesitate to ask one. When looking at a roof you need to keep an eye out for the following:
- Cracked caulk or rust spots on flashing
- Shingles that are buckling, curdling or blistering
- Missing or broken shingles
- Moss and lichen which is an indicator that the roof is decaying underneath
The average amount to repair a roof ranges from $316- $1015 depending on the damage and how large the roof is, it can extend to $150-$1900
Water Drainage
Lastly, we have water drainage which is important when home viewing because water damage can be detrimental to the foundation of the home.
You want water to flow away from the house and not towards the house so check the gutters and spouts to see if they’re functioning properly. You want your inspector to use an infrared camera to find water damage that exists under the surface of your home.
The cost of fixing a water drainage system ranges from $1585-$3575.
