In the market for a home? Or perhaps you're just seeing multiple homes now and haven't yet honed in on the one that might be your future home. Here are some things to be looking out for, before you get your heart set on a home that may not be as fit as it appears.

Realtor Hillary Caston gives some inspection tips to keep in mind while viewing a home, before you're at the point where you're in escrow and hire someone to do the official inspection.

That way, if there's something major that bothers you, you aren't emotionally (or financially) attached to the property yet.

Caston says:

• Use your senses, do you hear traffic that will bother you? Do you hear dogs barking, can you hear your neighbor showering?
• Smell the place, do you smell mold? If you do, there might be water leakage somewhere in the house.
• Look at how doors close and line up - if they don't close or line up properly, there could be an issue with the foundation.
• Is there a slant in the flooring? If you were to drop a ball, would it roll in one direction?
• Are there ficus trees around the house? If they're healthy, the roots could gravitate toward the sewer system and wrap around the main sewage line.
• Do the current owners have sprinklers on in the yard? If so, are the sprinklers spraying water onto the house? This is an easy fix, but if the homeowners have been doing this for years the repair could be costly.
• Is the roof noticibly tattered in areas?
• Do you see any cracks on the interior and exterior that are more than a 1/2 inch wide?

Your thoughts and feedback on this topic are greatly appreciated. Please feel free to post your comments.

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