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Use This Inspection Checklist When Touring Prospective Homes For Sale

9 April 2020

Cody Day

An important part of the home buying process is touring prospective properties that are on your shortlist so you can make an educated decision as to which option would be the best investment for you. You likely already have a checklist of features and amenities to look for when touring prospective homes for sale. But you should also use the following checklist to ensure that you know what you'll be getting yourself in to before actually committing to a purchase.

Check the Cupboards and Closets

Looking inside the cupboards and closets throughout any home you tour will provide you with some insight into whether any critters have been living inside. Most people carefully clean surfaces and floors to get rid of clues that rodents, ants, or other pests are lurking when they're trying to sell their home. But many forget to thoroughly clean the insides of cupboards and closets out.

So check the corners inside these areas and look for signs of critters such as rodent droppings, discolored drywall, and buckling wood. If signs of critters are found, you'll know that you will have to pay for eradication measures before you can move in and factor the cost into your overall buying decision.

Smell the Curtains and Furnishings

You can get an idea of how the interior a home you're thinking about buying has been taken care of by smelling the curtains and furnishings throughout the place. You may smell animal dander, mold or mildew, cigarette smoke, or other odors that give you clues as to what has been going on inside the home.

If you're looking for a home that has been well taken care of and that hasn't been inundated with pets and smokers, smelling the curtains and furnishings will help you avoid any prospective homes that don't meet these requirements.

Test All of the Included Appliances

If any appliances are included in the sales price of a home you are thinking about buying, it's a good idea to test them all when you show up to tour the place. If an appliance does not work properly, it shouldn't be factored into the sales price. So you need to know about appliance problems ahead of time.

Any appliances that don't work properly can be used to negotiate a better price on the house if you want to go ahead with making an offer. You can always use the money you save on the home purchase to invest in new appliances after you move in.

For more information about the homes for sale in your area, contact a local real estate agent.

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