| When you have found the perfect home for your | | | | home and that all light fixtures work. |
| family, you should give it a thorough walk through. | | | | Check the water pipes and sewer lines for any rusting |
| While your walk through is in no means a substitute for | | | | or leaking. Check the water pressure and volume. |
| a professional inspection, you can see if things are to | | | | Look for clogged drains or dripping faucets. Make sure |
| your liking. As a potential buyer, you have the right to | | | | the hot water comes fairly quickly. Check the water |
| check out the heating, cooling, plumbing, electricity and | | | | heater for any leakage or rust. Check the capacity, |
| water heater. | | | | age and general condition. |
| You should do this to make sure that you are getting | | | | Look to see what type of heating system the home |
| what you are about to pay for. For example, on one | | | | has. Determine the age and condition. Go ahead and |
| home purchase, we didn't turn on all the light switches | | | | turn it on and see if it works properly. If the home has |
| each time we walked through the house, or we would | | | | air conditioning, turn it on and check it out as well. Go |
| have noticed that 50% of them have shorts in them. If | | | | through the basement looking for any signs of water, |
| you wiggle them just right, they will stay on for a while. | | | | dampness, flooding, dry rot or termites. The attic should |
| That must be why the seller had all the lights on when | | | | also be checked for signs of leakage and any rodent |
| we walked through. There's a lot you need to know | | | | or insect issues. Make sure that it is adequately |
| about the home you are about to own. There are | | | | insulated. |
| many different parts that make your life comfortable. | | | | Look in the bottoms of closets, along the walls and |
| Go through the home from end to end and top to | | | | don't forget to look up at the ceiling. You can be |
| bottom. You might want to carry a notepad, pen and | | | | surprised at what you find. We were once told that a |
| checklist with you. Make notes so that you remember | | | | home had a minor water issue when a pipe busted. All |
| what you see. Do this at least twice, both inside and | | | | throughout the home, we found water marks on all of |
| outside. Sometimes we often are blown away by our | | | | the walls. Apparently the minor water problem was a |
| dream house, and don't look very closely at a property. | | | | entire flooding of the home. We didn't see this at first, |
| Make sure you go into the basement and attic. There | | | | only upon closer inspection. |
| are a lot of working parts in these areas. Make sure | | | | It is hard to buy a home. It is easy to fall in love and |
| that you check the heat, air, water and power. | | | | become blind to all the little things. But the little things |
| When it comes to electricity, start with the load center | | | | can cost you a lot of money. Make sure you walk |
| and look at the fuses or circuit breakers. You are | | | | through and really look at the home. And don't forget |
| looking for age and signs of wear or exposed wires. | | | | to have a professional do so as well. |
| Make sure there are enough outlets throughout the | | | | |