Anytime you purchase a new house, it’s important to perform your own inspections before signing on the dotted line. By carefully checking the main systems of any house, you can save yourself countless hours and headaches down the road.
Here’s are some great tips about how to check the plumbing of any home before you buy it:
* Find where the water meter is and determine if the shut off valve is working. If the water comes from a well the shut off valve should be inside the house.
* Check the size of the water pipes in and around the house. In order to have adequate water pressure when there are a few water lines open in the house there should be a three quarter of an inch to 1-inch line directly from the main water source. Inside the house the diameter of the pipes is generally a half-inch in diameter.
* Determine if the plumbing has any lead pipes. Typically homes that were constructed before 1986 tend to have plumbing that is lead or galvanized. This is not always the case though as newer homes can have a lead pipe leading to the water meter.
* Be sure the plumbing has protection for freezing weather. The protection can be things such as wrapped pipes and vents, which will close off in the winter when the weather gets extremely cold. If the home uses well water the well should be protected from freezing weather as well.
* Inspect the hot water heater. You should check the water heater’s capacity, location, and how old it is. Some areas in the home can have high levels of mineral deposits that are in the water that can settle at the bottom of the water heater. When these deposits build up in the water heater tank there will be less room for hot water. If you check the water heater and there is a large build up of deposits you may want to ask for a new water heater.
* Find out what type of sewer system the house uses. If the house uses a septic tank find out where it is located, the capacity of the tank, and where the lateral lines are located.* Check all the faucets around the house and make sure they do not drip. This
can seem like a minor thing but a dripping faucet can end up costing you a lot of money on the long run.
* Go to all the bathrooms and flush all the toilets. Make sure they empty and fill correctly.Source: www.handyhouseholdhints.com
So, take the time to check all these things BEFORE you buy and you’ll thank yourself after you’re enjoying your new home!
In today’s tight housing market, every little bit helps get your home sold. And I do mean EVERY little bit.
When you’re selling your home, you need to take your own emotional attachments out of the picture and view things from the perspective of your prospective buyers.
Love that deep red color on the walls of your bedroom? Great, but the potential buyers walking through your house might despise the color red because they went to UNC and can’t stand NC State.
You think your collection of Pez dispensers makes a wonderful display in your living room. Unfortunately, most people viewing your house will think it makes the room look smaller than what it probably is and as a result, will walk away with a negative impression of your home.
Ultimately, if you want your home to sell fast and for top dollar, you MUST do everything possible to help your prospective buyers picture themselves in your house, not you.
Here’s a fantastic article that offers several great pieces of advice on how to prep your home for maximum impact when showing it to potential buyers:
Dress to impress: Local staging company helps home sellers put their best foot forward
Sharon’s Top 10 reason’s why it’s a great time to buy real estate
1. Choices, Choices, Choices. No matter what your price range is, this is a time where there are plenty of houses to choose from. Only a few years ago, the buyer was forced to make compromises in a very selective market, not always finding the home of their dreams. With the home inventory growing, this is the buyer’s time to buy and be selective.
2. Love, Not War. When you find the house you love, the last thing you want to happen is a bidding war. The buyer has more negotiating power when they are the only bidder, and time, money and sanity is saved. Bidding wars can cause complicated clauses and can drive up the properties listing price.
3. You can make an offer. Today the sell price list vs. price ration is about 96%. A seller will not be insulted if you ‘make them an offer they can’t refuse’.
4. Take Your Time. In the hot seller’s market that existed everything was rushed. Find a house before other buyers did. Hurry up and make the offer. Today a buyer can take their time. Look at several homes and think about your decision for a few hours.
5. Do Your Due diligence. In this market a buyer is encouraged to obtain a home inspection, termite inspection, and appraisal. In 2005 many buyers waived these contingencies in order gain an advantage with multiple offers.
6. There are plenty of specs. Now that the market has turned, there are several specs sitting on inventory. Builders offer incentives, and are now more flexible.
7. Repair requests are welcomed. After a buyer completes a home inspection, they are allowed to submit a repair request to the seller. In the past a seller might insist the home was sold ‘as is’. Many times, there were back-up buyers waiting for a primary buyer to upset the seller whose home was increasing in value almost daily.
8. Few Investors. It is estimated that one third of all sales in 2005 were to investors. These non-owner occupied buyer caused the market to inflate and affordability to decline. Mortgage fraud became commonplace. It’s a great time to buy without having to compete with hundreds of prospective landlords.
9. Real Financing is available. The ‘wink, wink’ zero down, no doc, adjustable, sub-prime loans are gone. Fixed rates are back. FHA financing, first time homeowner bond programs, special loans for teachers, and police officers are back in business. It’s a great time to buy real estate!
10. Location, Location, Location. Today’s buyers can find homes closer to work. In this market, reasonably priced homes are within biking or walking distance to schools, rapid transit lines, and relatives.
Source: Paul Pastore: Broker Agent News
