It’s easy to walk through a house and notice all the obvious features. Walls that need paint, doors that are unlevel and floors that need repairs should be items that immediately pop into view.
This is great for the general walk-through as far as the condition of the home. However, when it comes to the most expensive problems, these are usually hidden behind sheetrock and paint.
Identifying Major House Issues
Heating and air conditioning systems, electrical wiring, plumbing pipes, and other internal systems can hide expensive repairs during general walk-throughs like this. In order to find out how these systems have been operating, you must talk to the current owner or finance officer at the bank.
They can give you copies of the most recent house inspection, as well as the findings and recommendations. By following these, you’ll be able to ask more informed questions and focus on the right parts of the house.
Conversations and Home Checklists
As you’re walking through a house though, it can be easy to get distracted. Make sure you stay on track with the conversation and use a checklist in each room. This will make it easier to write notes during the transaction and keep track of where the money needs to be spent. If you obtain the services of a real estate professional, such as an agent or a contractor, during these walk-throughs, they can give you repair recommendations.
DIY home buyers usually enjoy getting their hands dirty and correcting these problems on their own. The use of a checklist for them helps them keep track of what supplies need to be purchased. They can use that list while shopping at a home improvement store for parts of the necessary equipment.
Using the Right List
Having the right list in hand will eliminate a lot of questions. Usually, you can find an example online to follow that is easily printed out. You might also check with a local real estate agent to see if they can share one with you. No doubt, they have a trusted example that helps them walk through and inspect houses before they represent them. If you’re already working with them, they may give you this information to help eliminate certain homes from the process.
As you go through this process of purchasing a new home, the use of a checklist makes it very efficient. This is an easy-to-obtain tool that will simplify the walk-through process and help you identify profitable properties and money pits alike.
