Antigo Times

Top Menu

  • E-Editions
  • Contact Us

Main Menu

  • News
    • Business
  • Covid 19
  • Opinion
  • Courts
  • Arts & Ent
  • Sports
    • Sports News
    • High School Sports Scores
  • Classifieds
    • View Ads
    • Place Ads
  • Legal Ads
    • Our Legals
    • Statewide
  • Obits
  • Video
  • Best of 2022
  • Class of 2020
  • E-Editions
  • Contact Us

logo

Antigo Times

  • News
    • Business
  • Covid 19
  • Opinion
  • Courts
  • Arts & Ent
  • Sports
    • Sports News
    • High School Sports Scores
  • Classifieds
    • View Ads
    • Place Ads
  • Legal Ads
    • Our Legals
    • Statewide
  • Obits
  • Video
  • Best of 2022
  • Class of 2020
News
Home›News›Dear Monty: Six essential elements to look for inside a house

Dear Monty: Six essential elements to look for inside a house

By Antigo Times
May 31, 2016
893
0

By Richard Montgomery

 

Reader Question: I am a single young person who is going to buy a house. I liked the article on your website titled “ What should I look for when viewing a home,” but what, exactly, should I be looking at, or for, inside a house? Sarah Y.

Monty’s Answer: Every homebuyer’s past home living experiences vary. The following information does not replace the home inspector, but the more you know about the house, the more confidence you will have in negotiating decisions. These words are not to suggest you engage in this entire routine in every home, but indeed, any home in which you have a keen interest.

  1. The floor plan

    The floor plan of a home is the largest component. As you tour a home, think about how you plan on using the house. Will you live here to raise a family? Is it temporary until your situation evolves further? Will you be entertaining? Do you have or desire pets? Do you want an office?

    It is easy to overlook the hallway connectors, privacy walls, and room buffers. Are there a front hall closet and an entryway? If there is a bedroom off the living/family room, can you see directly into the chamber? If there is an attached garage does the door open directly into the kitchen, or is there a back hallway with a closet?

  2. Sound attenuation

    Dictionary.com defines attenuation to mean, “decrease over distance as a result of absorption, scattering, or spreading.” In a two-story home, can you hear the footsteps of a person walking on the upper level when you are on the main floor? Can you hear the basement furnace running in the living room? If a sound is a factor for you, come to understand the cost or practicality to overcome unwanted sound.

  3. Rooms

    The size, shape, ceiling height, HVAC distribution points, and the location of lighting fixtures, wall plugs, and light switches are necessary to observe. More than one person has bought a home without realizing there were rooms with no electric receptacles, or one had to walk across a dark room to flick the light switch. The room shape can play into the usefulness of your existing furniture, or the air duct may require a diffuser.

  4. Windows

    Are they double-glazed for energy efficiency? How can you tell? Shine a flashlight or other light source in front of the window; if you see four light reflections, there are two panes of glass. Also, window size dictates the amount of natural light in the room. Many people see the natural light as a benefit and look for it when buying a home. One way to determine if they are well constructed is if they operate correctly and with ease. Are they drafty in the winter? Get permission to open a few.
  1. Basement

    If there is a basement, look first for a sump pit. A sump pit with a sump pump diverts the water away from the foundation. This system keeps the basement dry if it is working.

    Look for evidence of water penetration or stains and patched cracks in the walls and floor. The type of wall is a construction clue. Poured concrete is less apt to crack or heave in particular soil types and more expensive to install than concrete block. Look at the basement windows and window wells for security and energy efficiency.

    Look up over your head. The ceiling may be the only place to get a glimpse of the floor truss system. Is the space between studs on the outside walls insulated? The grade and species of lumber may be a clue as to the quality mindset of the original builder or owner. It is also a good idea to open the electrical distribution panel to see if the circuit breakers are labeled.

  1. Attic

    Every attic has an access point in the ceiling of a hallway or closet. It is often called a scuttle. You can take a peek into the space to observe the roof truss system, the type of insulation, and possibly evidence of animal activity. Is there storage space? Is there a floor? Is it lighted? Can you see the vent system necessary to keep air moving in the attic?

These six elements are not all-inclusive, but using these observation points as a baseline, your awareness will expand to spot additional items that may be in one house, but not another.

“Richard Montgomery gives no nonsense real estate advice to readers most pressing questions. He is a real estate industry veteran who has championed industry reform for over a quarter century. Send him questions at DearMonty.com.”

 

 

Previous Article

Michael John Mischer, Sr., 62

Next Article

Kevin James Chroge, 46

Related articles More from author

  • News

    Boys & Girls Club receives funding from Community Health Foundation

    July 6, 2015
    By Antigo Times
  • DOTNews

    State traffic deaths increased by nearly 6 percent in 2016

    January 3, 2017
    By Antigo Times
  • News

    Antigo Middle School Announces Honor Roll

    June 8, 2015
    By Antigo Times
  • LocalLocal InterestNewsSenior Living

    February Events at the Senior Center

    January 30, 2019
    By Antigo Times
  • FarmingFoodLocal InterestNews

    DATCP Accepting Applications for Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin Grants through April 2

    February 28, 2022
    By Antigo Times
  • News

    Three Antigo young men bring light to community with car show

    May 24, 2016
    By Antigo Times

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Timeline

  • May 16, 2022

    Rise in COVID-19 Cases Calls for Increased Precautions to Protect Health Statewide

  • May 16, 2022

    Near Critical Fire Danger Across Northwest Wisconsin

  • May 16, 2022

    DNR Confirms Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza In Wild Red Foxes

  • May 13, 2022

    Langlade County Board of Adjustment Meeting Agenda for May 23rd

  • May 13, 2022

    Antigo Police & Langlade County Sheriff’s Reports for 5/16/22

Copyright © 2020 Multi Media Channels LLC.
All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication or any of its contents may be reproduced, copied, modified or adapted without the prior written consent of Multi Media Channels LLC.
×