5 Things to Look for When Buying a New House

When buying a new house it can not only be stressful but exciting. Sometimes with all of the stress and excitement you can forget to check for obvious flaws in the house. You should always check out the house you are buying thoroughly. The best thing to do is to have home inspector come in and check the house before buying it. Yes, it may cost about $250 but in the long run it's worth it. Either it will save you a costly mistake or, you can sometimes get the buyer to fix flaws in order to sell the house. Before paying a home inspector to check out the house do so work yourself. That way, if it's something that can easily be found it will help you to determine whether or not you would want to look into buying the house, in the long run saving you money for a home inspection if you decide that the damage is beyond your desire.

Roof

It doesn't always take a carpenter or inspector to see damage on a roof. There are some things you can check for when buying a house to see if there are any obvious signs of roof damage. Go outside and look at the roof from all angles. If there are any sagging, swollen or obviously damaged areas you can bet yourself you will be replacing the roof with in two years, if not sooner.

Check the corners and the center peak. These are usually the first places you will be able to see rotting wood. Check to see if there are any missing shingles. If so, there may or may not be water damage. You will need to replace the missing shingles as soon as possible.

Plumbing

While you can't go through and check every pipe, there are some things you can check for the first time you go to look at a new house. Be sure to check under all sinks. Open every cabinet door under the sinks and check for water damage. Be sure to look for fresh paint, mildew or any other signs of a previous leak. If it's possible, turn on the water and let it run for a few seconds. Then check to see if there are any drips from the pipes.

If time and weather permits, be sure to go outside and check the outside water spigots. Check for leaks that may cause further damage or high water bills.

Showers and Tubs