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Before You Fall in Love with a Home, Look Closer

When you’re in the position to buy a home, it’s always good to have your head screwed on and for your brain to be leading on a purchase, rather than your heart.

If you allow your heart to completely take over, chances are, you might not see the dangers or the imperfections that could ultimately lead to problems further down the line.

So before you fall in love with a home, here’s why you should look closer.

The emotional pull of a stunning property

When you set your sights on a stunning home, there’s an emotional pull that can follow. It often stems from its ability to connect with those fundamental needs and aspirations that many of us have.

Whether you’re looking to transform the home completely due to its potential or you can’t find any fault with it, the emotion that comes when you find a beautiful home is often overwhelming.

However, that emotional state can often send you into a place where you’re not seeing past the rose-tinted spectacles you’re wearing.

Common inspection issues that buyers overlook

There are often some common inspection issues that buyers will often overlook, so it’s good not to land yourself in the same situation.

  1. Poor or improper drainage

Buyers won’t necessarily pay attention to the drainage within and around the home.  However, it’s good to pay attention to minor signs and signals that could warrant a problem with the system.

Faulty downspouts or water that’s not diverting away from the property are definitely causes for concern and ones you’d probably want to focus on quickly when assessing the property’s potential.

  1. Outdated electrics

Minor electrical problems will be fixable. However, there are a few common electrical issues you’ll want to look at fixing, rather than overlooking.

From outdated wiring to painted outlets or improper DIY modifications. These issues can pose a fire hazard and, therefore, should be looked at by previous owners and corrected where necessary.

  1. Hidden structural issues

It’s good to be aware that there may often be problems that lie underneath the surface. That’s why common home inspection issues are necessary, as well as conducting any surveys for any parts of the house that you can’t see.

Serious structural issues like damage from pests or termites need to be something you’re made aware of before there’s any potential for it to do more damage to you and your new home.

  1. Lack of building code compliance

Any unpermitted or unapproved modifications, such as DIY renovations, may not be immediately apparent at first glance. As such, this can often lead to safety hazards as well as work done improperly and requires the buyer to dismantle and redo the work in order to meet local building regulations.

This can result in major financial and logistical headaches as a result. As a potential buyer, it’s important to be fully aware of what you’re buying into and to get all the relevant checks and surveys done to ensure the home you buy is not just smoke and mirrors in appearance.

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Karen LeBlanc

Karen LeBlanc is an award-winning travel journalist and storyteller, honored with two Telly Awards and four North American Travel Journalists Association (NATJA) awards for The Design Tourist travel show. As the show’s host, producer, and writer, Karen takes viewers beyond the guidebooks to explore the culture, craft, cuisine, and creativity that define the world’s most fascinating destinations.

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