Inspecting a Home - 5 Things to Look For
As if you don't already have a lot of other things you're thinking about when looking for a home, there are several key things you need to observe as you're walking through a home. As the best real estate agent in Colorado Springs, I know there are a lot of things to remember, but that's why you hire me. I can be your eyes and ears while we walk through a home, and can help you find the perfect fit. While you can't observe everything during a walk-through, if you have the top five things on your mind as you do, you'll be more likely to remember them while inspecting it.
Like the roof, this can be a costly piece of your home to replace. To get a new furnace can range from a couple of thousand dollars up to $5,000 depending on the brand and efficiency. You will find that the lifespan of a furnace will be about 20-25 years, while an air conditioning unit only has 15-20 years if serviced regularly. While there may not be a sticker on the unit saying when it was made, you can sometimes get a clue by looking at the serial number. If the number begins with "0598" it may mean that it was made in May of 1998. Giving you a pretty good idea on the age.
While the cost to replace the water heater is not huge, you would want to have an extra $500-$1000 set aside for that. You can expect that a water heater will last around 10-12 years, but there are many variables with this. In some cases, the water heater will have a date indicating when it was built, but if it doesn't, you can use a method similar to the heating & cooling unit.
If you don't know what to look for when you're touring a home, you can rely on your real estate agent in Colorado Springs to give you suggestions. When you sit down with Mike MacGuire and Team we will assist you with all your real estate needs and make sure you are prepared for the process of purchasing!
Mike@BuyWithMike.com
Start With The Roof
Replacing a roof can be a HUGE investment, especially when you've only just bought a home. When you start looking at a home, start by investigating the roof age and condition. A roof with shingles can last as little as 15-20 years or as much as 50+. Metal roofs can last even longer than that. When you look at the roof, you want to look for dips, pits, shingles that are out of place, and obviously leaks inside the home. If the shingles are curled in any way, that can also indicate it's older and may need to be replaced.
Heating and/or Cooling Units
Like the roof, this can be a costly piece of your home to replace. To get a new furnace can range from a couple of thousand dollars up to $5,000 depending on the brand and efficiency. You will find that the lifespan of a furnace will be about 20-25 years, while an air conditioning unit only has 15-20 years if serviced regularly. While there may not be a sticker on the unit saying when it was made, you can sometimes get a clue by looking at the serial number. If the number begins with "0598" it may mean that it was made in May of 1998. Giving you a pretty good idea on the age.
Plumbing
It goes without saying that you want to make sure that all of the sinks, faucets, and toilets are functioning as they should. You should also watch the way they drain, and if there is a basement, you can even walk down there and make sure there is no leaking happening. How does the water pressure from the faucet look like? Are the toilets flushing correctly, or are they loose? You may even want to taste the water if it's on well water.
Water Heater
While the cost to replace the water heater is not huge, you would want to have an extra $500-$1000 set aside for that. You can expect that a water heater will last around 10-12 years, but there are many variables with this. In some cases, the water heater will have a date indicating when it was built, but if it doesn't, you can use a method similar to the heating & cooling unit.
Window Condition
Have you ever lived in a home where the window was either difficult to open, impossible to open, or wouldn't even stay open? While it may not seem like a big deal while you're looking through homes, it can be irritating after buying a home. You also want to inspect the condition of the windows, and the caulk around them. Windows can help with the energy efficiency and overall cost to keep a home warm or cool, so it's an important detail.
Your Colorado Springs Home
If you don't know what to look for when you're touring a home, you can rely on your real estate agent in Colorado Springs to give you suggestions. When you sit down with Mike MacGuire and Team we will assist you with all your real estate needs and make sure you are prepared for the process of purchasing!
Mike MacGuire
Colorado Springs Real Estate Agent
The MacGuire Team
6760 Corporate Dr
Ste 300
Colorado Springs, CO 80919
719-536-4324 or 719-660-6793
Mike@BuyWithMike.com
Comments