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.
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?
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.
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.
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.”
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