Before Buying a House
Buying a house can be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life. But it can also be stressful and tricky.
When shopping for your dreamhouse, things like structural integrity and proper electrical systems can take a back seat to pretty lights and that beautiful quartz countertop. But choosing the wrong home can lead to massive problems and turn your buying experience sour very quickly.
Choosing the right home can lead to sheer bliss while helping your long term goals by acting as a financial bedrock for your family. we want to help you avoid some of the potential pitfalls of home ownership that will help you avoid the need for calling emergency1 Property Rescue in the future.
The two times your home will be exactly how you want it is when you are buying and when you are selling. Sellers usually set the goal to make their home as ‘pretty’ as possible. Fresh paint, new light fixtures, maybe some new floors, and a deep clean can turn almost any house into a desirable-looking abode. At least at first glance.
With this checklist, and an inspector’s attitude, we can help you mitigate the risks while maximizing the probability of a positive homeownership experience.
Here six tips to help you look deep when you are buying a house:
1. Cracks and tilts:
Commonly, the deeper you dig, the more problems arise. Don’t let yourself be deceived by the smell of fresh paint and a beautiful faucet. To the best of your ability, try and look at things that would indicate “good bones”. Foundation, water, cracks, or tilting structure are things that can tell you whether or not a home is built solid. Bring a laser pointer, and make sure that any crack is not more than ¼ inch wide. If you have any doubt, have a structural engineer inspect first.
2. History:
The average length of ownership for a home in Canada is nine years. If you are looking at the ownership history and you see less than three years, maybe something is happening with the house, the neighbors, or the surroundings. Quick sales generally mean house flipping. And house flips are one of the largest gambles in real estate.
3. Uneven floors:
Bring a level, marble piece, or even a pencil to an open house and place it around the home in different areas. Watch for your marble to start rolling on its own. If it does, alarm bells should be going off in your head. In the best-case scenario, you will need to replace just a small part of the floor, in a worst-case scenario, the foundation may be shot, and repairs could cost more than purchase price.
4. How loud is the music?
Noise is a significant factor in the overall quality of life. External and internal noises can plague some homes. In an open house, the realtor may create a distraction with music and loud talk. Try to make yourself aware to the sounds around you both inside and out.
5. What areas the seller won’t let you see:
If the sellers don’t let you into some areas until you are under a contract, be aware! That is a tell-tale sign that they are hiding something.
6. No permits
You should always ask for the residential building report to ensure that all work on the home has been done to code. Failure to do so could put you at risk of the liabilities of shotty work done by others.
Take some time and inspect a home before buying; if you feel it is necessary to find a professional inspector or someone with knowledge about the home structure and remodeling industry, remember to take photos and videos to go back and check them several times.
So why is a restoration company giving you this information? We want you to make the right decision for you and your family. We want to always be there for our clients and our community. And that means helping you avoid an emergency as much as get out of one.
The Restorer
Have concerns or questions about your home? Get help by contacting Neil at neil@emergency1.ca or phoning our team at 204-727.help(4357). Whether prepping for a purchase or dealing with post-purchase issues, we will help you through the entirety of the process.