Buyers Guide: How To Be Your Own Inspector

Buyers Guide: Be Your Own Inspector

If you are in the market for a new home you’ll be visiting many homes and properties to see if they are right for you. In today’s market many homes are even sold without conditions, meaning you need to bring an inspector with you when you visit. Imagine doing this every time you view a home, the costs add up quickly! We’re going to pass along some tips for what to look for when you visit a home to help you be your own inspector. If it passes your test you may consider coming back with an inspector for real and put an offer in.

Exterior Cracks or Tilts
- These are the big dollar issues. Cracks or tilts in the foundation can mean major structural problems and even costlier repairs. Be sure to take a look around the foundation for cracks or tilts that could indicate cracks lower that can't be seen.

Ownership History
- Much like a resume, if you see a home with high ownership turnover, it is a safe bet that the property has issues that has caused each one to move on from it. If a home is owned for under 3 year windows this can indicate an issue possibly unseen causing people to leave.

Hidden Water Damage
- If someone is desperate to sell the home, they may simple slap a fresh coat of paint over water damage spots to hide them. If they go undetected, now you’re on the hook for the issues that follow. Not only water repairs but things like black mold growth.

Air Fresheners and Music Playing
- Two very common cover-up tactics. These are attempts by the current home owner to cover smells and sounds that they do not want you to hear as they are probably a deterrent to purchasing the home. Smells like pets, leaks, or environmental surroundings plus sounds such as traffic or loud appliances could be issues they are trying to cover up.

“Off-Limit” Areas
- If a seller has areas that are off-limits, especially places like crawl spaces, a red flag should immediately pop up. There is a high probability that they are hiding something that they do not want you to see and that is because it is something that will stop you from purchasing the house. An off-limit room should instantly mean an off-limit house option for you.

If you follow these simple steps, you can get a good read on the house yourself and if it seems to be okay, you can make a decision to view the home again with a proper inspector to ensure it is fit for purchase.

Here at Jump Realty, all of our agents put their customers' needs at the forefront of their work. If you are thinking of buying a new home, our REALTOR®’s can help you view the properties and recommend expert inspectors to make sure your home is a safe purchase. They’ll give you honest advice on what course of action is best for you in their professional opinion and will always put you first! With offices in Windsor, Tecumseh, Kingsville, and Chatham, no matter where you are a Jump agent is ready to help. Please contact us for any housing needs and let us give you a better real estate experience!

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