{"id":713,"date":"2016-11-11T12:43:37","date_gmt":"2016-11-11T12:43:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/merendarealestate.com.previewc28.carrierzone.com\/wp\/?p=713"},"modified":"2017-07-18T06:26:45","modified_gmt":"2017-07-18T06:26:45","slug":"6-things-to-inspect-before-purchasing-a-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/merendarealestate.com\/?p=713","title":{"rendered":"6 Things to Inspect Before Purchasing a Home"},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019ve found the perfect home and decide to put in an offer. What could go wrong? If you don\u2019t examine the home closely before purchasing it, you could end up inheriting dangerous problems. If you are considering buying a home in Toronto, Ontario, here are a few things you should inspect before signing the papers.\"\"<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 The basement. Start your inspection in the basement. Pay close attention to any musty smells or odors. These are usually signs of water damage. Also, keep an eye out for drips or water stains. If you see any rotting wood, leaks, or cracks in the foundation, it could be a sign of leaky pipes or structural issues. These are difficult and costly issues to fix. While it can be done, it could affect the selling price of the home or cause you to change your mind all together.<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 The attic. Like the basement, it\u2019s extremely important to inspect the attic of a prospective home. Because the attic is close to the roof, it\u2019s easy to tell whether or not there are repairs that need to be made. Once you are in the attic, look for leakage. If it hasn\u2019t rained recently, you may not see actual water dripping through the beams. Instead, look for rotting wood, water damage, or damp smelling material. While you\u2019re up there, take a look at the insulation. It should be thick enough to keep your home at your desired temperature.<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Plumbing. The pipes in a home are extremely important. If you are looking to purchase an older home especially, take a look at the plumbing. Old pipes could be growing mold or mildew. Plus, if the home isn\u2019t plumbed correctly, severe water damage or flooding is imminent.<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"\"<\/span>HVAC system. Can you imagine spending a fortune on a home only to discover that the air conditioner doesn\u2019t work? Protect your finances by inspecting the furnace and HVAC system before putting in an offer. The size of your unit should be large enough to efficiently heat and cool the entire space of your home.<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 The home\u2019s exterior. The chimney, roof, and exterior walls of your home can tell you a lot about its structural integrity. If you find clogged gutters or cracked stucco and brick, there could be foundation issues due to water damage. Check driveways and walkways for cracks as these are signs of the ground settling. If checking the chimney, make sure the flashing is secure. Otherwise, critters, water, and debris can cause problems with the structure of your home and your fireplace.<\/p>\n

\u00b7\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Windows. Before purchasing a home, take the time to open each of the windows. Make sure that they glide easily, close properly, and lock. If they don\u2019t, it\u2019s a safety hazard for your family. Inefficient windows also make it difficult to heat and cool your home properly. Plus, windows are an expensive item to replace. By uncovering the problem early on, you aren\u2019t surprised by the replacement cost years into homeownership.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t purchase a money pit. Whether you are in the beginning stages of looking at\u00a0residential properties in Toronto, Ontario,\u00a0<\/b>or you already have a home in mind, take the time to inspect it. By examining these 6 things, you avoid costly repairs in the future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Are you looking to buy a new house? Don\u2019t pull the trigger until you read the 6 things that the Merenda Real Estate Group recommends you inspect in each prospective home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":715,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-713","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/merendarealestate.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/713","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/merendarealestate.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/merendarealestate.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/merendarealestate.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/merendarealestate.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=713"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/merendarealestate.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/713\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/merendarealestate.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/715"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/merendarealestate.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=713"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/merendarealestate.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=713"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/merendarealestate.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=713"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}