Picked A House To Buy? Steps To Take Before You Buy
If you have found a house that you are interested in purchasing, you may feel ready to just jump right in and start signing some papers. However, before you do that, there are some steps that you should take first. These steps will help to ensure that you get the best price for the house, for one thing. They will also help to make sure you are not accidentally buying a house that has hidden problems you do not know about. Being aware of the condition of the house will help you to make your final decision about whether to sign the mortgage papers and buy the house.
Have a Roofing Contractor Check the Roof and Gutters
One of the first steps you should take before you officially buy the house is to have a roofing contractor come out and check the roof and gutters. They will look for signs of general wear and tear, assess the approximate age of the roof if that is unknown, and of course, look for damage.
If there is significant damage to the roof, you can request that the current owners either have the roof replaced/repaired or that they reduce the price of the house by the approximate cost of a new roof.
Have an Infrared Home Inspection Done
Another step you should take that you may not have thought of when buying a house is to have an infrared home inspection done. Infrared is also known as thermal imaging and it can show a lot about a house. Infrared will detect cold spots in a room that is otherwise at a normal temperature.
These colder areas can be signs of air leaks or moisture. If, for example, there is a cold spot in the corner in the attic, you might have a hole in the roof that needs to be addressed. On the other hand, these colder spots in other areas could mean that there is moisture or water damage. It can even be a sign of mold in the area. Infrared home inspections can detect leaks in the plumping and roof, damaged and damp insulation, and problems with the foundation.
But it is not just the cold that thermal imaging detects. It also detects hot spots. If there is something overheated in the house or an overloaded circuit, the infrared home inspection will detect them. And with the detection of these hot and cold spots, you will be sure that there are virtually no invisible problems with your potential new house before you buy it.
Knowing these steps to take before you buy a house you are interested in, you can schedule your inspections and be sure you are getting the right house for you. For more information on how to get an infrared home inspection, contact your local experts.