It can be so easy to be blinded by a beautiful home. When my wife and I purchased our present home, we thought it was just perfect. There were some really nice features including, shiny new white cabinets, custom paint colors, complimentary tile and carpet and brand new appliances! I can still remember the first time I made Christmas cookies. I preheated that new oven and popped that tray full of cookies right into the oven. Check that! I TRIED to put the cookies in the oven. The cookie tray hit both sides of the oven. It was an undersized oven! I looked at the overall kitchen, not each item. For a guy like me that really enjoys the kitchen, it was a big deal and not easily fixable. The cabinets would have to be rebuilt to accommodate a properly sized oven. It took us over ten years and a lot of money before we could re-do the kitchen and have the kitchen that we wanted all along.
Recently, I showed a home that had a similar situation. We walked into a beautiful home. My clients loved it! There was crown everywhere, custom window and door trim and brand new stained cabinets. It was gorgeous. One problem. The contractor painted over oil based paint without properly preparing it. The paint job is going to fail and fail big very soon. It is a thousands of dollars and a two or three weeks to fix problem, but it looks perfect. Old oil based paint needs to be sanded and primed with an oil based primer prior to painting it with an acrylic paint. There are some acrylics that will work, if the surface is very clean and sanded well, but I prefer the oil primer method. It ensures a good bond.
When viewing homes, try to get past the initial impression. Run your hands over the trim and doors. Do they feel smooth? Do they look smooth? Are there any areas that the paint is failing? Really look at the cabinets. There are a lot of stained cabinets that have been painted poorly. In an inconspicuous area, run your fingernail over the paint (trim, doors, cabinets, baseboards). The paint should not come off easily. Look at the walls . Have the drywall patches been done correctly? I would even look at the tile, sink and tub surfaces closely. They can be painted effectively, but I have seen many failed applications. Of course, home inspectors are a must, but it does pay to look beyond the beauty. By the way, the first item I always check these days...the oven!!!
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