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Let's save you, the buyer, some money in this article. When you are looking at homes for sale and finally find one you like how do you know it is in good shape? You can put an offer on the home and then get an inspector in to look at it. This is a great idea but could cost you money multiple times.

 

Lets say you like a home and want to put in an offer. You would put in conditions. One would probably be a home inspection condition, this we strongly advise. Now what if the inspection goes badly and you don’t buy the property. Now you have to look again and pay the inspector another $300-$500 dollars to make sure the repairs were done. We will show you what to look for to give you an idea of what to expect. So you can prepare yourself or not even bother with an offer.

 

Look at the details. See if trim comes together nice, is the drywall done well, do the light sockets look correct. Once you start really looking around things will just look off. Look at the electrical panel. It is usually in the basement in a storage room or the furnace room. Just open it by the handle. If the wiring looks normal then that is a good sign.

Another thing to look for in the home you are thinking of buying is blatant code issues. What we mean is look for things that you know are illegal or just dangerous. An electrical socket right by a sink (electrical hazard). No hand railing on stairs. Plumbing under the sink that has tape, caulking or another material holding it together. You will know.

 

There are a tonne of properties for sale at all times. No two properties are created equal. Try to look past the pretty wallpaper or nice furniture. Take the three tips above and use them on each home. Then make a judgement call if you think it is worth even getting an inspector in. A lot of small details usually lead to larger, expensive issues. Then you can decide if you want to put in an offer. Not to mention you will be more prepared if the home inspector finds a lot wrong.  

 

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