We all know that before you sign the papers to take over your new home, there are some very important checks to be made; like building and pest reports.
But once your mortgage is up and running, and you’ve just moved in, the last thing you want to find is that you’ve just inherited previous tenants past problems and the costly repairs begin.
However, here are 10 very simple maintenance checks which can sometimes make the difference between buying your dream house and stepping into a costly nightmare.
1. Check The Drains: Ideally, you want to make sure that there isn’t a backup (caused by tree branches or a collapsed pipe) between the house and the sewer line. You could check the Drainage diagrams for the property which are lodged with the state’s Water Board. A Drainage Diagram is a certified document that illustrates your property’s layout and where the pipes are located, including where they connect to the primary wastewater system. Although there are various kinds of drainage diagrams, there’s one in particular that can offer you the best view of the water pipes and drains on a property – known as a sewerage service diagram.
This allows you to see how the drainage compares with your property’s layout, which could save you a lot of time and money in the future. In the interim, you could try a simple test (with the current owners permission) by running a load of laundry, filling up the bathtub and sinks, and let them all attempt to drain at the same time.
2. Open All The Windows: Replacing windows isn’t fun and it isn’t cheap either. Open them all to find out if they stick, are stuck or just plain old won’t open.
3. Turn On All The Taps: Although changing out taps isn’t exactly rocket science, lying on your back in a cabinet, holding up tools a-la-Michelangelo is not much fun. Just check to make sure they all work before buying to eliminate the back ache.
4. Light A Fire In The Fireplace: Even though chimneys are usually installed by professionals, that doesn’t mean they’re always in pristine shape. Cleaning them is as simple as a phone call to a local chimney sweep, but finding out if all the fireplaces in the home draft correctly is another.
5. Taste The Water: Even if your city has great water, your pipes might be old enough that they’ll send a little extra something out of the tap and into your glass. Knowing up front if you’ll need to install a whole house filter or invest in a few Brita pitchers is always helpful.
6. Flush The Toilets: Knowing that all the toilets in the home can handle toilet paper is a bonus. Although they’re easy enough to replace or fix, finding ones that flush well are a bonus. If you’re dissatisfied, they could issue you money back to make the replacement in order to get you to sign on the dotted line!
7. Open The Electrical Panel: A clean and labeled panel is a happy panel. Something that looks like squirrels got up inside can signal trouble. Look for loose wires or ones that simply don’t connect to anything. It could signal that there’s live wires inside the walls!
8. Turn On The Heat/Air: Knowing that both of these things work prior to actually needing them can be a serious bonus. Check to make sure they blow their respective temperatures in addition to just turning on.
9. Pull The Carpet Back: Before you move in, you’ll want to find out if there’s hardwood floors and also any mold or mildew under the carpets. Look for the lowest side of the room and if possible pull a corner back. Many homeowners will have a section of carpet removed in a closet to allow you to see the condition of the floors below.
10. Basement Moisture: Although most home inspectors will sniff this one out for you, look for signs of dampness. Even if the walls aren’t apparently wet, look for things like dehumidifiers, blocks of silica or other things that grab moisture from the air and keep it at bay. If the home owners are smart enough to move these things, look for places near outlets that look like where something like this might have sat.