8 Tips for Home Buyers Before Hiring a Home Inspector

We usually ask clients if there are any specific concerns about the house before we inspect it. However, more often than not, the answer is something similar to, “No, it looks like a nice place.” So, how closely did they really look before making an offer? Here are some tips ~ below are for ways for home buyers to look a little closer at a property themselves before hiring a Home Inspector.

1. Drive the neighborhood (day & night)
   What’s the foot traffic like in the neighborhood?
   Are there a bunch of kids, moms with strollers, young professionals or juvenile delinquents?
   How much noise do the neighbors make?
   Do you drive to work (or anywhere else regularly)? If so, test your morning and evening commutes and time how long it takes you.
2. Take a walking tour
   Reevaluate all of your answers to the questions above.
   How far is the nearest coffee shop or restaurant?
   What is the condition of sidewalks and public plantings?
   (a well-manicured neighborhood usually suggests stronger civic engagement)
3. How’s the plumbing?
   You don’t need to test every faucet, but a quick check will show you the water pressure & draining. Plus, if you can let it run for a minute, you’ll be able to see how long it takes for the water to heat up.
4. Test the windows
   Open a few windows.
   Do they open, close, & lock properly?
   Is there a lot of traffic or neighborly noise?
   When the window is closed, can you feel a draft around the edge?
5. Visit in the light & the rain
   Try to schedule a visit when the sun is out.
   How does the natural light flow through each room?
   Do any rooms seem especially dark? If so, could it be the paint color causing the problem?
   How dark do the bedrooms get? Close all the shades and see if the light still filters through. If so, and you enjoy sleeping late, you might want to add room-darkening shades to your shopping list.
   What about when it’s raining? Are there any obvious leaks? Is there any standing or pooling water in the yard, patio, etc.?
6. Listen up
   How does sound travel within the home? Turn on the dryer, dishwasher, etc. to hear how loud it is.
   If you’re buying a unit in a multi-unit building, how loud are the neighbors?
7. Measure the storage space
   Some sellers clear their homes of all clutter, but many don’t. Empty closets, pantry, etc. look bigger and stuffed spaces can look much smaller. Take out a tape measure & compare the actual size with wherever you live currently.
8. Bring your marbles
   Are the floors level? What about the counter tops? Bring a marble to find out. When you place the marble on the surface, does it stay put or start rolling?