Buying a House: What to look for

Buying a house is daunting whether you have bought 10 or 0. The one thing we all have in common is that we are on the hunt and we are never really sure what we are walking into before get inside of the house. Once we are inside of the house though the question becomes “what now?”.

Here are 10 things we should all be looking for when buying a house.

1. Foundations

This is the “F” word during a house hunt. You just mention the word and everyone stiffens up and you can feel the fear creep in. What do we do though, as home buyers? Can we tell whether a foundation is bad while we are walking through? Is a drywall crack a definitive sign of a bad foundation? How can I tell?

This is a great question with a non-comital answer. ‘Definitively” it is impossible to know exactly whether the foundation is functioning as it should without consulting a structural engineer. However, there are some signs that we can look to in order to see if the foundation looks like it “might” be bad.

• Your normal walk can tell you a lot. Listen to it. If you are walking along and you feel like you dropped too quickly in a room or you’re heading downhill when it should be flat, it is a sign that the foundation may be shifting. You shouldn’t feel like you are going down hill or uphill. Be mindful of how you are walking and it will tell things your eyes can’t see.

• Drywall cracks!?!? These are not a definitive sign of foundation movement. I live in North Texas and these cracks are just a fact of life. Look to see if there is a large gap in the crack. This can be a bad sign. When you see them look and see if there are a lot on one side of the house. Then when you are outside look at the exterior wall and see if there are cracks the correspond to the dry wall cracks.

• Look for sticking doors that won’t close or are hard to close.

These are signs that could lead you to think that there may be issues. The only way to know for sure is to consult a structural engineer.

2. Flush Toilets and Run Faucets

This is just a good rule to follow. You may feel like it is annoying to do, but it can tell you a lot about the state of the house you are buying. Most houses on the market are going to look very nice and a lot of things will be covered up with new paint. Turning on faucets and flushing toilets will immediately show if there are plumbing issues or not. Be sure to check all faucets, not just the ones in the bathroom and kitchen. Turn on a hose bib outside and faucets in the laundry room and garage.

NOTE: When checking the faucets, check whether the hot water is coming on and whether it takes longer to get hot on certain faucets. This tells you about the plumbing, but also about whether the hot water heater is working appropriately.

NOTE: Check the age of the water heater. These typically last between 10-12 years and it is a good idea to replace them when they are that old anyways so you don’t risk water exploding everywhere and damaging your home.

3. Open and Close All Doors

This is a great practice that won’t slow down your walk through, and it can tell you a lot about the house. If the doors don’t close well or not at all it can tell you there may be some movement in the foundation. It will also tell you whether or not all the handles and door parts are working.

4. Inspect and Open Windows

Windows should not be overlooked when doing a home tour. An individual window is not too terribly expensive but unfortunately houses have a lot them, and the price to fix them all can get quite high. Open up windows to see if they have locks, stay open, have a screen, and shut easily. Take a look at the glass as well. If you see some fogging or condensation in the window panes that could be a sign of a broken seal. This is a malfunctioning window and needs to be replaced.

5. Look at the Drainage

Water should be directed away from the house. So, the soil around the house should slope away from it and not toward it. If you see water pooling around the foundation this is a bad sign. Water is the enemy and we want it away from the house. This can lead to serious foundation issues in the future even if there aren’t any right now.

If it is a dry day then take a good look at the grade of the soil and see if it looks like it is going away from the house or not.

NOTE: You should be able to see the foundation below the brick or siding at least 4 inches. If soil completely covers this up it will lead to damage to the siding, interior of home, and foundation.

6. Follow Your Nose

You can tell a lot by the smell of a house. You may not be able to tell exactly what is going on, but you sure know the smell of rot and damp mold. Listen to your nose. It won’t lie to you.

Also, if there is a strong smell of cleaners that could be a sign that someone is trying to cover something up. It may not be, but it is something to think about.

7. HVAC

When walking through the house feel for whether or not there is a big temperature difference between rooms. If there is a big difference in a room, first look to see if the vent is closed. If it isn’t then this could mean an HVAC system that isn’t performing well. Also, look to see how old the HVAC system is. If it is older than 20-25 years this is toward the end of its life span. It may work for another 10 years, but it is still something to consider especially if the rooms in the house are different temperatures.

NOTE: If it is 70 degrees outside you may not be able to feel much of a difference. You should ask to turn on the heater and the AC to see if they are working. If it is less than 60 degrees outside DO NOT try to AC. It could seriously damage it.

8. Turn on All Lights and Electrical in the House

Be consistent with this throughout the house. Turn on all lights and try as many outlet connected lamps or appliances as possible when you are walking through the house. You’ll find out quickly if there are serious problems with the electrical or not.

9. Check the Exterior

When walking around the exterior of the house be vigilant for any signs of damage.

• Cracks or rot in siding

• Cracks or damage to foundation

• Missing shingles (bringing binoculars is never a bad idea)

• Gutter damage

• Look for trees that are too close to the house.

  • Roots can cause damage to to the foundation

  • Branches can cause just as much damage to the roof

    
    

10. Turn On All Appliances

Check to make sure everything coming with the house is working.

• Microwave: Put some water in a cup or bowl and see if it heats it up.

• Oven: turn it on to see if it comes on. BE SURE TO TURN IT OFF!

• Stove top: Make sure all burners are coming on.

• Turn on Heater and AC to make sure they are working. If it is below 60 (in Texas) do not turn on AC. It could seriously damage the AC system.

• Refrigerator and freezer: Make sure it is working