Things to Check While Buying a Home

When you are buying a brand new builder house, most potential buyers often think that they can dispense with need for a house inspector. If it is new house, it might be in good shape, but not always true. Here are some clues for determining a home's overall quality before you commit to cost of hiring a house inspector:

• The structure of the house: Look at the house from a reasonably distant vantage point. Check the walls appear to be flat and plumb. From inside, are not square at corners or any walls bowed, In the middle of the living room floor when you jump, check for, is it flex or feel solid?

• Water control: Check for, from the base of the house does the ground slope away? Will drainage pipes, downspouts and gutters carry excess water away from the house or into the basement? And look for any evidences of water damages.

• Roof: Does the roof is look neat and properly applied? Is it new and in good shape?

• Kitchen and bath fixtures: Are tubs, toilets and sinks quality fixtures and do they work properly? When you turn on faucets and flush toilet, look for the water pressure good or not.

• Electrical system: Are the number and the receptacles locations adequate to the needs of the home? Make sure that the main circuit breaker marked at least 100 amps.

• Plumbing and water heater: Is the water heater electric or gas (gas is much more efficient)? From the water heater to fixtures the water supply pipes should be copper.

• Heating: Where is the heater or furnace located, and what type is it? Are any rooms which are not properly heated? Do the registers look adequate for heating spaces? and is the house air conditioned?

• Insulation: For insulation look in the attic. In moderate climates R-19 (for example, six inches of fiberglass) is a minimum. In cold climates up to R-38 (Twelve inches of fiberglass) is required. On perimeter wall remove a receptacle cover to check for the wall insulation.

• Fireplaces: Do the fireplaces have glass doors (doors are more efficient) or screens. What about log lighters and dampers? Is there a combustion vent that draws the air from outside and a spark arrestor at the top of chimney?

New houses can be just as problematic as the old ones. In fact, because they have not been tested from years of use and abuse. They might be filled with problems, especially when the builder used any shoddy practices. A qualified house inspector hiring before you buy the house is a major security against very expensive surprises. Again, a house inspector can be very costly from several hundreds of dollars to a thousand dollars or even more. On the other hand, if the house has some serious drawbacks, you are better off saving the cost of house inspector and moving on to a better one.