Buying a New House is somewhat daunting, especially if you’ve never done it before. If you’ve lived at home or always been a renter, then this is a whole new experience. Here are 12 things to look for when buying a new house. Some are beneficial, whereas others are best Purchase houses.
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Table of Contents
Foundation Concerns- Buying a New House
Anything related to the foundation should send alarm bells ringing in your ears. If it doesn’t, it’s seriously time to get your ears checked! What you need to look for are cracks in the wall plaster suggesting that the foundation has moved from its original position. Even smaller things like doors that won’t move freely or sit evenly on their frame, or windows with similar issues suggest a possible foundation problem.
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Low-Quality Workmanship- Buying a New House
When looking around a home at an open house event or viewing photos online, pay attention to the quality of the workmanship. For example, one sign in real estate of poor-quality work is when the tiles sit unevenly or aren’t lined up properly. Good real estate agents should spot this and point it out. While for some potential buyers, it could put them off, others may see it as an opportunity to ask their broker to negotiate harder.
When it comes to homes for sale, poor quality work may suggest the home was worked on several times. Or simply, if the tiles are bad, what else is hidden that you haven’t seen yet? This is where a good survey is required to cover yourself. Finding high-quality homes for sale is important. It saves time and avoids difficulties later. Try looking on this site for property details: ezhomesearch.com. EZ lists homes for sale in the Carolinas. You can search by zip code, location, or address.
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Basement Has Had Work Done
If there is a basement, what is its overall condition? How does it smell? Is there are a damp odor or just a lack of fresh air reaching the space? Basements in some states are notorious for getting flooded out, especially when we’re experiencing these erratic storm seasons now. Are there water stains on the floor or walls suggesting a previous flood was cleaned up? Ask about this. Confirm whether the basement has ever flooded, and if so, how bad was it? Did they use a sump pump to pump the water out?
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Walkable to Local Stores (and Safe)?
Some locations are not walkable and require a bike, electric scooter, or auto to get to the local neighborhood & community shopping center. Other places support some local mom ‘n’ pop stores or a convenience store within walking distance. How safe is the neighborhood? What are the crime statistics like compared to elsewhere in the state or beyond there? If you’re new to the area, it’s important to ascertain which neighborhoods are considered safe and those that are bordering on not being so? If the area is labeled as, “Up and Coming” by the realtor, then that should give you pause.
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Near to Schools/Colleges- Buying a New House
If you’re a family, then the kids will need to move to new schools if you are getting into a different school district. How far are the local schools or colleges from the home? Will it add time to your daily commute to drop them off and pick them up? Is there are school bus routes nearby that they can use if they’re older enough to take it and are used to doing so? Check out the academic ratings for the schools or colleges too. Ensure that they’re not low rated and likely to offer a poor education to your children.
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How Much Outdoor Space is There?
What outdoor space is there? Is any part of it visible to the road, or neighbors on either side? That could be across from their backyard to yours or from a 2nd floor down to your outdoor space? How much privacy does the fencing permit? Is it in good repair and provides a modicum of security or does it provide a poor barrier that mainly just marks the property line? Is there are pool or a deck? Or a patio that you can put on patio furniture and maybe a BBQ grill in the summer? Are they in good repair, need fixing up, or will require replacing? Will the outdoor space be larger enough for the kids to run around and play? Can friends come over and move comfortably to the outdoor areas?
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Water Sources Nearby May Create Issues
When there are water sources nearby and the home is situated below it, then this opens up the potential for flooding. In this situation, some homes cannot secure flood insurance with their home’s insurance coverage if it’s previously had flood damage. Talk with neighbors to see whether they’ve had an issue with flooding in the street previously. Also, check past new reports as well; they could prove illuminating.
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Bacterial Issues (Mold, Mildew, etc.)
Difficulties with mold aren’t immediately obvious if they’re in hidden places where you need to inspect for them. Mold could be lurking inside bathroom sink cabinetry, behind a water pipe, or near windows. While there should be a distinct odor for it, a window that’s left open to air the place out could disguise it. Also, if there’s considerable air freshener used, that could be an attempt to obscure its obvious presence too.
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Poor Ventilation
Limited or inadequate ventilation can cause moisture to build up inside the home. When that moisture cannot escape, it is found on the windows, pipes, and elsewhere. It could simply be that the filters on the vents aren’t clean or need to be replaced. This could help, but it won’t fix moisture that’s already gotten inside the building’s insulation and inner walls. This will be difficult to remove after the fact and could lead to health concerns for anyone with respiratory disease.
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Driveway is Breaking Apart
A driveway that has a broken surface or has stonework that is broken here and there will be expensive to fix. If it’s a laid driveway, sometimes it can be heated and resurfaced. However, if flat paving has been used, then these will need to be individually replaced where they’re broken.
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Old Wiring
While homes will have modern breaker boxes, that doesn’t always mean that the internal electrical wiring has been properly upgraded. When the wiring is too old, it can be a safety issue. Also, even if it’s reasonable quality, it can be sufficiently underpowered to not cover all the home appliances and electronics that you’ll be plugging in.
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Spotty Roofing or Leak Issues
A roof that’s not in the best condition or has roofing tiles missing is a cause for concern. If the tiles have been missing for a while, then subsequent rainfall could have penetrated the roofing structure. Eventually, this water will reach either the attic or the ceiling on the upper floor. A bowing or questionable shape to the roof is also something that shouldn’t be ignored. This is a worry that there are big issues with the roof, and it needs looking into carefully.
Ultimately, if you’re unsure about a new home, then at a minimum, get a survey. However, if there are substantial concerns that aren’t fully addressed, then you may need to pass. Certainly, there will be a cause to discount any offer by the cost of repairing or resolving issues found with the listing. But the question is, how much of a headache do you want to deal with once you move in?
