If you are in the market to purchase a home, it can be easy to fall in love at first sight. Well, Ted Bundy may have looked like a dreamboat, but we all know what he did to those young ladies, right? You may think a home looks splendiferous from outside, but quality, and sometimes the "devil" of poor upkeep, is in the details.
First Part - Windows
If you have decided on buying a home, then there should be several things considered for your checklist. There is an old clich that eyes are the window to a person' soul. In the case of a home, they can be a clue to the quality of the home building if you check the following:
First question to ask - can the windows properly be opened and closed? Good windows are not noisy and slide without having to be forced. Cheap windows tend to stick and make grinding noises. It would behoove you to discover why a window cannot open or close properly, if applicable. Perhaps the house's foundation has started to move, or maybe the windows are of inferior quality to begin with. Make sure you know the cause.
Next thing to check would be whether the sills at the window's base are soft or squishy in any way. To be sure about this, you would want to gingerly run your hand against the sills to find out whether they are soft or not, although a telltale sign would usually be a rotting appearance to the sills. And if you indeed find the sills to be mushy, then it might be time to call in the cavalry. If the sills feel squishy or gooshy, then that is an indicator of water penetration. More importantly, it also means the problem has existed for some time. Another auxiliary result of water penetration would be mold - and you do not want to expend a lot on getting rid of mold. Emphatically request that the seller pays for an inspection if this is the case. And if the seller shakes his/her head no, then take your business elsewhere.
Water stains are the final window item to check for during your viewing. Just because the sills are not soft, doesn't mean there isn't a leakage problem. There would definitely be a water issue if you notice stains around the window frame. Look for rooms that have not been painted when making your inspection. Put on your "game face" and ask of the seller that they state on the sales agreement that before they repainted the house, there were no water stains present.
Windows are indeed the soul of a home - so pay attention to their "purity" before buying property. Giving them a good "once over" should tell you a lot about the house you are considering.
First Part - Windows
If you have decided on buying a home, then there should be several things considered for your checklist. There is an old clich that eyes are the window to a person' soul. In the case of a home, they can be a clue to the quality of the home building if you check the following:
First question to ask - can the windows properly be opened and closed? Good windows are not noisy and slide without having to be forced. Cheap windows tend to stick and make grinding noises. It would behoove you to discover why a window cannot open or close properly, if applicable. Perhaps the house's foundation has started to move, or maybe the windows are of inferior quality to begin with. Make sure you know the cause.
Next thing to check would be whether the sills at the window's base are soft or squishy in any way. To be sure about this, you would want to gingerly run your hand against the sills to find out whether they are soft or not, although a telltale sign would usually be a rotting appearance to the sills. And if you indeed find the sills to be mushy, then it might be time to call in the cavalry. If the sills feel squishy or gooshy, then that is an indicator of water penetration. More importantly, it also means the problem has existed for some time. Another auxiliary result of water penetration would be mold - and you do not want to expend a lot on getting rid of mold. Emphatically request that the seller pays for an inspection if this is the case. And if the seller shakes his/her head no, then take your business elsewhere.
Water stains are the final window item to check for during your viewing. Just because the sills are not soft, doesn't mean there isn't a leakage problem. There would definitely be a water issue if you notice stains around the window frame. Look for rooms that have not been painted when making your inspection. Put on your "game face" and ask of the seller that they state on the sales agreement that before they repainted the house, there were no water stains present.
Windows are indeed the soul of a home - so pay attention to their "purity" before buying property. Giving them a good "once over" should tell you a lot about the house you are considering.
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