7 Key Ideas to Keep in Mind When Shopping for a House

When you first start to seriously consider houses you want to buy and imagine your future in them, it can feel like an exciting time. What is less exciting is when you notice potential problems that can leave you feeling annoyed and angry in the months after your purchase. When walking through any home, keeping a few ideas in mind can help you stay safe in your new place of living.

1. Understand Where Water Gets In

Basements and garages are common spaces that can suffer from flooding and water seepage when you get intense rainstorms or have drainage issues. Beyond preparing for major storms, you should also check for dripping from faucets and shower heads. These little leaks can add up to serious water damage and mold as time goes on.

2. Think About the Location

Although you may love the design or layout of the house, taking into consideration what is around it can help you think about whether it is a good fit for your future. Figuring out how long it takes to get to a major center for shopping and what the public schools are like can be relevant if you are raising a family. If you prefer peace and quiet, noticing how close your neighbors are and how often people use the roads can give you an idea of whether you will like that area or not.

3. Check for Working Heating and Cooling

The quality of the heating and cooling systems in your new home can impact your quality of life when the weather outside starts to change. If you notice signs of aging on the air conditioning system, contacting an HVAC contractor Santa Rosa may help you get a quote to replace it. As the colder months roll around, you will also need to make sure you have a way to heat your house. Some older homes for sale may have rust or broken filters on these systems, so checking them is important before buying the house.

4. Determine How Solid the Foundation Is

If you notice sloped floors and uneven walkways when walking around a potential choice for your new home, it could have an issue with the foundation. Most people associate foundation problems with older homes, but houses of any age can face this trouble. According to This Old House, you should keep an eye out for odd cracks or bowing walls. Signs of an unsafe foundation may not appear obvious at first glance.

5. Open the Windows

If you struggle to get all the windows in this new home completely and fully open, it could be a bad sign. You should check the frames to make sure none of them look warped or bent out of shape. Unsafe windows could be a problem if you need to get out in the event of a fire or some other emergency. Workers may have installed these windows wrong, which can happen even in a new house.

6. Examine the Shingles and Tiling

If you notice that certain tiles on the inside of the house are uneven or seem to be falling off, those could be signs that the tiling was not professionally done. Checking the top of the roof and seeing if there are any missing shingles is another way to make sure that the house will not eventually get mold or other issues due to water leakage from up on the roof. Keeping an eye on the kitchen and bathroom tiling when touring the house can help you see the quality of work put into the house in general.

7. Realize the Signs of Hidden Mold

Although a freshly painted wall or a new piece of furniture put in the house to decorate for potential buyers may seem inviting at first, in some instances it could hide a patch of mold. These little tricks may make it harder for you to spot stains and water damage. Making sure to closely examine all walls and other easily accessible areas is key.

Stay Alert When Searching for a New Home

By taking time out of your day to check specific details of new houses you are looking at, you can spot design flaws and avoid frustrating situations. For more information about HVAC services and repairs, contact us online or call us at (707) 228-9921.