Inspecting
Your Home
 When
you have found a home you like, George will arrange
an inspection. This is an overview of what the inspection
covers!
- Check for special taxing districts to be sure you
won’t be socked with big assessments in the
future.
- Check to see that the access roads and streets
are maintained by a municipality (unless they are
private which would require a written joint maintenance
agreement with neighbors).
- Check restrictive covenants to be sure you can
live within the confines of the rules and regulations.
If covenants are important to you, look around the
neighborhood and see if the homeowners do a good
job at enforcing them.
- Have a survey to be sure the home, decks, porches,
patios, outbuildings, structures and landscaping
are within your legal property lines.
- Check to see that utilities are accessible and
easily maintained by utility companies without having
to destroy buildings and landscaping within your
property lines.
 If
serviced by a well, have water tested for potability
and test the well output to be sure it falls within
acceptable standards. Check the incoming service
line and pressure tank for leaks. - If serviced by a septic system, have the system
inspected including the tank, leach field and service
line. Be sure there is access for cleaning out the
lines. Have the system pumped.
- If serviced by city water, be sure the meter is
operating properly and check the service line for
leaks.
- If serviced by public sewer, check the service
line for leaks, roots and other obstructions.
- If there are any questions or doubts, hire individual
experts to do further examinations. (For example,
if the foundation is in question, hire a structural
engineer.)
- Always get a disclosure statement prior to closing.
In this statement sellers must reveal any known defects.
Be very cautious if the seller says, "They do not
know" or "Are not sure" of certain areas in the home.
These areas would require close examination.
 If
the home requires repairs, do not allow the seller
to have them done. Instead, get your own estimates
and plant to have them done on your own. Negotiate
either a reduction in price by to cover the repairs
or have money put into escrow by the seller. (If
sellers do the repairs, they often have them done
as quickly and cheaply as possible.) - Always require a final inspection before closing
and after furniture has been moved out. This can
help you find concealed damage or damage sellers
did while moving out.
- Check what is and isn't included in the price
- How long will items in the house last?
|
> How
to Buy
> Looking
for a home
> Inspecting
a home
> Pre-qualifying
> Closing |
