PRIOR TO SIGNING THE CONTRACT

Check the home thoroughly prior to signing the contract.  Once you have seen all homes on the market that meet your wants and needs, you must then decide upon the one that you like the most and also best fits your game plan.

What should you do now? You should contact your Buyer’s Agent to arrange for you and the agent to visit the property for a close, personal inspection. Have your agent arrange for the sellers to be gone so that they won’t be offended by your inspection.

Has the home been properly maintained?

 You are looking to see if normal maintenance has been performed on things like the windows and doors. Do they open and close easily? Do they show signs of abnormal wear and tear? Are they properly sealed?

Does the interior need painting?

 Are the walls in good shape? Are there any cracks in the floors or walls that may be from settling? Is there any evidence of water damage at the baseboards or in the ceiling?

Check the plumbing

 Some homes have plastic pipes that over time will leak. Does your home have metal pipes? Are the toilets in good shape? Do they flush properly? Is the home on sewer or septic? If septic, when was it last cleaned out? How is the water pressure? How old is the water heater and is it large enough for your family’s needs?

Appliances

How old are the appliances that will convey with the home? Are they in good shape and do they operate properly? Are all of the appliances electric?

Is the furnace gas or electric?

 What are the average monthly costs for utilities for at least the past 12 months? Is the home wired to code? Are there enough wall outlets in each room?

How old is the roof?

 Does it appear to be in good shape? If shingles, do they show excessive wear? Is the surface flat or wavy? Do there appear to be soft spots? If there is an attic, are there water stains? Is the roof adequately insulated?

How about the lot?

 How large is it? Is it fenced? If so, is the fence legal? What kind of sod? Is it properly maintained? Is there an in-ground irrigation system? If so, is it on an automatic timer? Do the trees and shrubs look healthy? Does the land slope away from the home, as it should? Is there any erosion? Is there any water accumulation anywhere on the lot?

If you are satisfied that there were no major problems found during your personal inspection, you may decide to go forward with an offer.

Remember, this personal inspection is not meant to preclude a professional home inspection. You should always have a professional inspection performed.