What to look for when buying a home

Much like buying a used car, buying a home can be a risky proposition. But unlike a vehicle, home buyers can’t take a house out for a test drive. While there are professional home inspectors to detect some of the more hidden problems, there are also several things a home buyer should be able to detect on his own.

When many home buyers first walk into a home, visions of what they’ll do with the place soon form in their heads. Where to put furniture or what to do with certain rooms can be overwhelmingly euphoric feelings. Still, blocking out these thoughts is a must when making a home-buying decision.

Rather, give an impartial eye to the house. Though you might love a home’s hardwood floors, check to see if they’re level. Unlevel floors are indicative of structural problems, a big no-no when it comes to home buying. Also, if the doors stick or drag, this is another indication of possible structural damage.

There are also signs to look for that will indicate how well the seller took care of the place. Cracks around windows and wear and tear that was not properly maintained are signs of poor upkeep.

Electrical problems will not be as easy to observe for most potential home buyers. That does not mean, however, that you cannot keep your eye out for any potential electrical problems.

If any wiring is exposed, for instance, alarm bells should go off, especially if you have children. If there are any visible electrical problems that are not listed on the seller’s statement, you might want to get the house out of your mind, regardless of its aesthetic value.

Another easily detectible electrical area is in regards to the outlets. Do they feature two prong holes or three? Older homes may not be wired to accommodate higher amperage appliances and will need to be updated.

Although you can convert two-pronged outlets to three with special outlet converters, you might risk overloading the circuits and blowing a fuse or starting a fire. While there are an abundance of other electrical problems, these are the most easily detectable with the naked eye.

It’s also a good idea to do some preliminary plumbing inspection on your walk-through. Many times simple plumbing issues can be overlooked by potential home buyers, as it’s easy to assume running water and basic plumbing functions are up to par.

However, there are some indicators you can check for to give you a good idea of a home’s plumbing.

For instance, you can run more than one faucet at once to check water flow. If the flow decreases drastically as you turn on each new faucet, you’re probably going to need all new pipes, a job that can be expensive.

Also, run the shower and/or tub at a normal speed for several minutes. This will tell you if the house has drainage problems you might want to avoid. It should also indicate whether there are leaks around your fixtures.

Check the piping, too, as mixed pipes with both metal and plastic are indicative of amateur home repairs, which could be equated with neglect and years of problems.

Also look at the ceilings located below upstairs bathrooms. Have the ceilings been recently painted? Although this might mean the homeowner has been cleaning up for the sale, it could also mean he’s trying to cover up stains from past leaks.

The same can be said for new flooring in bathrooms or kitchens. Anything that seems dramatically out of character with the rest of the house might be a sign of a coverup.

Another thing you can easily notice is the home’s location. If the home is situated at the bottom of a hill or the land around is sloping downward in the direction of the house, flooding might be a problem. This can negate any positive effects of a basement and can also lead to extensive problems down the road.