1. Beyond “Curb Appeal”
Smart home sellers know the importance of curb appeal, or how attractive their home looks from the street. A home with good curb appeal will have healthy grass, recently pruned plants, and walls and trim not in need of paint. If you have found such a home, terrific! Now it’s time to look a little closer. An important factor in maintaining a healthy landscape is having an irrigation system that works well. Ask the owner or agent to turn on the system. As it cycles, check from time to time to see if there are any issues like broken sprinkler heads, leaking pipes or valve issues. Also, look closer at the exterior walls for chipping paint or cracks in the plaster.
2. Major Structural & Equipment Needs
When previewing the inside of a home, it’s important to look beyond the homeowners furnishing. One of the most important pre home inspection tips from professionals is to look up. Check for stains that might indicate water damage and possible problems with the roof. Also, look for settling cracks in the ceiling and at the wall joints. If you are in a two-story home, walk as much of the stairs and floor as possible, checking for squeaks or creaks that might need repair. Finally, spend some time in the kitchen and utility closet to see the condition of appliances and equipment. A quick once-over should tell you whether or not they might need to be replaced.
3. Finishing Touches
After buying a home, you most likely will want to add your personal touch. Things like pulls, door handles, ceiling fans, molding, switch plates, cabinet doors and window coverings can add a lot of expense. Keep these items in mind when previewing a home, and the cost required to replacing any or all of the items.
Before spending hundreds of dollars for a professional home inspector, you can give any home you’re interested in buying a cursory inspection. For more pre home inspection tips or answers to your Fort Lauderdale real estate questions, contact us! We enjoy selling beautiful homes.
