7 Critical Things to Look for When Buying a House

Buying a house is more than just exciting – it can be truly life-changing, especially for young people! At the same time, if we’ve listened to the voice of the Internet lately, we also know that buying a house, in the wrong way, can send you straight into debt.

Yes, you heard that right. A house may be astonishing for the most part but, thanks to various underlying problems, you may be forced to spend more on repairs than you spent on the house itself.

If you want to avoid repairs, handymen, contractors, and crushing debt, here are 7 critical things to look for when buying a house!

The Ideal Moving Company

You can’t know when you’ll find the right house for you. Therefore, it would be ideal if you had a moving company ready to accommodate your things to your new home on short notice.

Think of this as a reservation in advance! Professionals in the industry like flex-demenagement.ca can help you avoid wasting time on the big day! Relying on professionals means that you can focus on inspecting the house without worrying about the whereabouts of your possessions.

Appliance Status and Condition

As mentioned at the beginning of the article, you want to make sure that your expenses won’t suddenly increase after you buy the house.

When you visit the home, it is wise to take as much time as you need to check every single appliance in it to see if it works properly. Does the house have a boiler system in the basement? It must run perfectly or else bills will start flowing next to cold water!

Even if that fridge looks brand new, make sure the freezer is in optimal condition and doesn’t come with a bad smell.

Power and Outlets

Depending on how old the house is, its electrical system may be a bit out of date for new and fancy technology. Before you know it, an old outlet can start smoking and, if you’re not at home, can damage the wiring in the house and leave you powerless for a couple of days.

You already have your smartphone with you so just bring your charger in when visiting as well. Why? Well, to test every single outlet in the house. By doing so, you’ll see which one is not working properly and avoid issues later on.
For example, serious wiring issues will cause outlets to not activate the fast-charge feature of certain phones. If that’s the case, you may want to ask some questions.

Electrical Panel

Even though you may not be a professional and use the electrical panel on a regular basis, you still have to check it. It must be in good shape – meaning that everything inside it must be arranged and organized.

If the wiring is random and covers some of the buttons/switches, things can get worse. Bad wiring favors electrical hazards and, on top of that, will also make it hard for you to reach the switches in case you need to shut down the power in an emergency.

Last but not least, make sure the case of the panel is sturdy enough and that it comes with a lock as well. Depending on its location, pranksters could easily scare you – or worse.

Take a Good Look at Basement Walls

Mold is a very serious issue in many households. The worst part is that, besides the fact that it looks and smells bad, it can also cause health issues that require more than a pill or two to be solved.

When you’re visiting, take a good look at the walls of the basement and see if there’s any weird smell in there. Moldy corners should make you ask some questions. On top of that, if you see dehumidifiers throughout the house, you’ll definitely need to buy some for yourself as well.

Naturally, also question any cracks found at the basement level as they often hide problems you don’t want to deal with.

Check the Roof

The roof can have issues similar to the basement. If you have the chance, visit after or during a rainy day, as this will answer a lot of questions.

While you’re in the attic, check for any moisture or puddles. If you find any, this means that the roof might be leaking – it doesn’t matter if it does so only during heavy rain. The roof shouldn’t leak, as the water from the attic will go down and affect all of the house’s levels.

Moreover, look for bird nests as well. If they found a way in, then other animals could make their way into your house as well, not to mention that this points to a poorly insulated roof.

Check Areas for Water Infiltration

Water infiltration is a deal-breaker – especially for you! We’ve heard scenarios where newly-bought homes turn into pods with the first heavy rain that hits the area. This is something you want to avoid at all costs!

If water rounds up in your yard, then it will reach your basement and inside of the house’s foundation in no time.
To prevent water infiltration, a house must be equipped with proper drains in the patio/yard and with top-notch gutters. The latter keeps water away from the foundations!

The Bottom Line

If you’re a first-time home buyer, then these are only half of the things that you’ll have to do before buying a house. If you think you lack the experience or the knowledge to properly check your house, then you should rely on professionals that can do so!

They can thoroughly check your future house for any potential issues that you may miss at a glance and, ultimately, prevent additional expenses.

This is why, as a final thought, we recommend you avoid going cheap when it comes to professional check-ups as they are really worth their money! Your sharp eyes paired with the experience of a master in the industry will make for the ideal home purchase!