Whether you are considering buying a house or selling one, conduct a rundown of property items. The rundown could make all the difference in the world. Although not everything will require costly repairs, some might, which is why it's important to be prepared. Before you head out to look at homes or put your home on the market, check these items to ensure they are properly working:
- Look for settlement cracks on the wall, floor, or ceiling. Every Michigan home, at one time or another, will get a settlement crack with the thaw and freeze of the ground, so if you find a few, there's no need to panic. However, if you notice major cracks, this could be a sign of structural problems. Mark down the location of where you find cracks and point them out to the inspector, who will determine the degree of damage. If they are small cracks, they can easily be filled with plaster and repainted.
- Look for leaks. Water damage marks on the walls, floors, or ceilings may simply be from a bathtub or toilet that overflowed, or it could be serious and due to a leaky roof. Also, check the tile in the bathrooms and kitchen for any indication of behind the wall leaks, such as mildew or loose tiles.
- Open and close all the doors and windows. Listen for squeaks or sticking. In most cases, this is simply a matter of spraying some lubricant such as WD-40, but it could also be another indicator of settlement.
- If there is an outside deck, check for rotted wood, which could be a sign of termites or simply old wood needing replacement.
- Check all of the electrical outlets. You can simply take a working nightlight with you, plugging it in to each outlet to make sure they’re all working properly.
- Check the garage doors, if applicable. Make sure they run smoothly on the tracks and that the openers are in good working order.
- Look for pests such as termites or ants. The best place to look is around the foundation, wiring, pipes, doors, and windows.
- Look at the grading of the yard, both front and back, to ensure that run-off water flows away from the house.
- Look at the gutters to ensure they are properly installed and that water flows out adequately.
- Check the driveway to look for crumbling concrete, pockmarks, or holes that would need to be fixed.
- Have the roof looked at by a professional. Make sure the turbans are installed correctly to eliminate any leakage and that no portions of the roof need to be fixed or replaced.
- Carefully check out the heating and cooling systems. These can be high dollar expenses; so, it's important that they are running properly. Often, these items are covered under a warranty; so if there is a problem, see if there is warrant coverage.
- If there are any fireplaces or wood-burning stoves (which there usually are in the chilly Ann Arbor Area), make sure the chimneys are clear of debris and the flues are working properly.
- Caulking and weather stripping are important as well. Improper coverage will cause air leaks into the home, raising utility bills and causing unwanted drafts.
The good thing is that everything can be fixed. The bad part is that some items are costly, which is why it's so important to ensure you keep operating systems of the home in good working order. If you are buying a house, a good inspector should find all of these items and work with the seller to ensure that most or all are taken care of. If you are selling your home, having these things working properly will put you in a much better position of getting a good price for your home.
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