When you’re shopping for a new house, it’s very easy to get caught up in the excitement.  You see the gorgeous crown molding, beautiful hardwood floors, and amazing built-ins and forget about anything else.  But there are a few things you always need to check before you decide that the house you’re looking at is destined to be your future home.  Here are five key areas that you always need to check before you make an offer.  If you don’t, you may find yourself with a house that needs some costly repairs.

  1. Could this be your new home?The foundation.  Foundation problems can cause your entire house to come crashing down if you’re not careful.  Even fairly new houses can have some issues with the foundation if trees are planted close to the house or the foundation isn’t laid correctly.  Small cracks in the foundation may simply be the house settling naturally, but they may also be a sign of something worse. In case there are cracks on the floor, replacing it with a Heavy-Duty Resin Flooring for High Traffic Areas may help boost the value of the home.
  2. The wiring.  It’s hard to inspect the electrical system.  You can only do so much—even turning on all of the lights and plugging things into every outlet will only tell you that electricity is flowing.  An experienced home inspector will be needed to check the wiring.  Be sure you have one do a full inspection before you make your offer.
  3. The plumbing.  Again, flushing the toilets and turning on all the taps will only tell you so much—you might buy a home without even realizing it has a leaking pipe or mold growing in the walls that may need the help of an expert like the plumber Adelaide.  Always look behind, under, and around the sinks and toilets.  Again, look for cracks, especially in the caulking behind the sinks. If you wish to know more on how you can save on costly plumbing repairs, click for info. You can also consider hiring a drain cleaning contractor to ensure that the drainage is properly working and to avoid future damage. For immediate plumbing assistance, contact professional plumbers. Contact Graham and Sons Plumbing in Sydney if you need the services of professional plumbers.
  4. The attic.  The attic is actually one of the most important areas of a home to inspect because you’ll be able to see every area that’s been damaged.  Damage in other parts of the home can be covered up, but the attic tells you everything about leaks and other roofing issues. Moreover, if you have issues with your heating system, make sure that you contact boiler repair services.
  5. The landscaping.  While it might seem odd, you want to look at the plants and other landscaping around the home.  Is there a break between large shrubs and trees and the house?  If not, the roots may damage the foundation.  Are there any damp areas outside the house, even though it hasn’t rained lately?  It could indicate a leak.

While it may not be easy to check things like the wiring and the plumbing, make certain you have an experienced inspector do so.  You won’t regret it, especially if a major problem is exposed.