House Hunting: Watch Out!
During house hunting, many people tend to check out the closet space and appliances more than the actual heating, plumbing and structural system. Remember, while the closet space and appliances are important, how the house runs with its “core organs" can be costly for repair or replacement down the road.
You don’t need to be a licensed home inspector, there are simple ways to watch out for red flags!
HERE ARE SOME TIPS FROM US TO YOU
If there is a furnace & hot water tank within the property, look for the last inspected (or installation) date. Review the age of the property and determine if these items are near the end of its lifespan. A furnace normally lasts between 15 to 30 years and hot water tank lasts 10 to 15 years. Watch out for leaks or signs of corrosion while you are at it.
Look up at the ceiling and windows to determine if there are signs of moisture. Yellow stained spots, molding, bubbling or paint peeling might be a red flag! If you do spot them, ask the Listing Agent to check with the Seller if there were any previous leaks. If they are unsure, then a home inspector would have to come in and detect for moisture.
Look underneath the sinks for signs of moisture. Sometimes when you open the Seller’s kitchen or bathroom cabinetry, you do find a bunch of stuff underneath. Use a flashlight to see if there are any moisture stains. If it is too hard to determine, always respect the Owner’s belongings. We recommend arranging a second showing and ensure with the Seller to clean it up and allow the Buyer or the Inspector to have a look, as this can be a risky spot!
Try the faucet. Does the water flow out slow or fast? Is the faucet loose? Does the hot water heat up efficiently? How is the drainage? The issues here could be beyond a Realtor’s expertise. A Home Inspector will determine what is acceptable and what is not. However, good to get a head start to check it out.
Check all the rooms to ensure there is a heating source. If it is forced air or electric heating system, you will easily find the vent cover or baseboard in the rooms. However, if it is radiant heating system, we would have to rely on the Inspector to check if its underneath the flooring. If a room does not have a heating system, then we’d have to check with the Seller to see if it was an additional converted space (potentially an unauthorized space.)
Windows: do you see condensation? Fogginess? If yes, determine whether the condensation is inside or between the window panes. If it is inside, then it means the property has high humidity (find out what causes that.) If it is between the window panes, then you’d probably have to change the glass (or the entire window.) Too much condensation could result in the growth of mold or mildew. That being said, it could damage the interior window trim.
If possible, walk around the property and check the roof & gutter. This is especially important if there is a big tree that is located closely to the property. Look for signs of moss or tree branches touching or falling onto the roof (could result in gutter dripping water = possible blockage = potential leak into the building) Roof life expectancy - asphalt: around 20 years or more, concrete tile: around 50 years or more, wood: around 25 years or more.
Our team would like to remind all Buyers that during a property tour, always respect the Owner’s belongings and the Listing Agent. Before you test out anything (ie: appliances, water faucet etc.) please get the Listing Agent’s consent. We would always recommend to inspect the property with a licensed Home Inspector, as they will provide a detailed report of the red flags! Again, always let the Listing Agent know ahead of time with notice if you are planning to perform an inspection.
Questions? Let’s Chat!
Written by Ck Real Estate Team
