Even though I have experience, there are so many things to keep in mind when you first visit a house before making an offer. Here are pointers that I want to share with you to guide you in this process so you don’t get swept up in the excitement of the situation.
Inspecting the exterior of the house
Whenever I visit a property, I always inspect the yard — regardless of what season it is. Once I’ve finished surveying the premises, I always check the exterior of the house, focusing on the following points to see if the home has been adequately maintained. Is the silicone around the windows in good shape? I inspect the walls to see if they’re straight, but also if there are any obvious building defects. I also look at the gutters and see if there are cracks on the outside of the doors and windows. Whenever possible, it’s a good idea to check out the foundation, stairs, and balconies. And be sure to look closely to ensure there hasn’t been any leakage or water damage. Through this process, you’ll be able to determine whether the previous owner took good care of the property. And if you find too many issues, don’t worry; it’ll just guide you on what to do when it comes time actually to purchase the property.
Pour over every corner of the house
After inspecting the outside, I head indoors. I look at the floors, checking to see if the house has three or four different styles of flooring (floating floors, carpets, ceramic, parquet) and to ensure if they are level. Afterwards, I check out the cleanliness of the space. I look inside the closets to check if there are any cracks in the doors or inside the windows and any of the divisions. Visiting the entire home from top to bottom is essential so that you avoid any unwanted surprises. And when I say the whole home, I mean it, right down to the furnace room. While you’re at it, be sure to turn all the lights off and on and check to see if all of the doors close properly.
Make it a pleasant process
Finally, the most important thing, as always, is to embrace the process. At this stage, you’ll be looking at your property but not fully inspecting it. Leave that job to an expert who will be able to inform you all about this potential purchase. For now, the most important thing you can do is visit the property and use this as an opportunity to see what possible improvements you’ll need to commit to before calling this house your future home.
