Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Steps in Buying Real Estate - Tips On Inspecting Houses

You want to prevent yourself from major surprises if you might be thinking of buying a brand new Minnesota real estate, hence hiring a specialized home inspector can easily relieve much of the stress and concerns regarding your potential real estate early on in the home buying process.

However, it's not necessary to carry out an official property inspection prior to the signing the initial contract, thus it is probably best to understand as much as possible about the shape of the MN property by having an straightforward talk with the vendor and perhaps conducting your own 'mini' inspection where you are able to check for standard structural defects or potential problems.

The majority of home owners will probably be open to having you inspect the house prior to the signing of the preliminary contract, which then gives you some leveraging influence while you are negotiating the contract cost. Barron's 'Smart Consumer's Guide to Home Buying' recommends all future homebuyers to make an inspection checlist where they can take note of any problems as well as areas of concern prior to the contract signing. "If you are thinking about buying a house that will need renovation or upgrading, the more value will be derived from your mini-inspection," explains the authors of the book.

Consider creating an inspection guideline for a property inspection report to help you carry out a walk-through of the real estate and take notes about the overall look of the said property. Below are some critical areas for you to check:

Find out about how old the house already is - you will need to ask the seller exactly howl ong since the house was constructed, how many times the site has been reconstructed, as well as check if there are any blueprints available.

Check out the groundwork for potential issues - check for large breaks or perhaps obvious water piping conditions in the house as well as in the basement. Inquire concerning flooding or weather-related problems that have taken their toll on the house in the past.

Check out the details of the property, especially the interior, for damages and other potential problems - you'll have to ensure that all doorways open and close easily and that the walls are still stable and well-grounded. Take note of any visible cracks or deterioration and make sure you also take pictures of any issues that stands out. You will want to examine potential problems of odor or molds as well as ensure all water pipes are properly maintained and functioning.

Check out the external details of the home for potential problems and other damages - do all the doors and windows have adequate insulation? Do they open and close fluidly? Ensure all the doors, windows and sidings do not have chips nor any evident wear and tear.

Look at heaters and air conditioning equipment - ask regarding the average heating and cooling costs in a month, and check how long the devices have been in place. In some cases, you may need to spend money on a new heating and air conditioning equipment.

In addition to the written inspection survey, you may consider taking photographs and also short videos with a digital camera/camcorder to help you to look at the actual inspection again in more detail at a later date. The extra footage may also provide you with a better position during the negotiation process with the real estate agent.