Helena Talbot's blog - The Top Five Things Most Buyers Neglect To Check When Buying A Home

Buying a home will probably be one of the largest purchases you make in your lifetime.  Therefore, it's vitally important that you inspect everything on that home before signing the contract.  Because something that may seem small and insignificant could turn into a loss of thousands of dollars in the long run.   Below are just a few of the most common areas that many buyers neglect to check when buying a home.

1.  Open and close all the windows.  Do they function properly?  Are they fogged?  If they don't function properly there could be underlying problems with the house such as foundation issues, etc.  You never want to skip this step.  Window replacement can be very expensive.

2.  Turn on all the faucets to see if the drains are draining properly.   If the home was a foreclosure, there may be some damage done by the previous owners somewhere deep in the pipes.  Damage that is not visible to the naked eye.  Sometimes branches from large trees or broken pipes could  cause drainage problems as well.  Underground pipe replacement is another very costly expense.

3.  Taste the water.  When you have an old house, some of the pipes may be so old that they can drastically affect the way the water tastes.  Not to mention the quality of the water and the purity of the water coming through those pipes.  This is the same water you will be making your ice with, showering with, washing your clothes with and more.  Installing a whole house water filtering system could get expensive.

4.  Check all of the light fixtures and switches.  Changing a light fixture or switch due to an electrical problem may not seem like an expensive item.  However, if the electrician has to trace the problem and it turns out you have a bigger electrical problem than just a simple fixture or switch, this could become a big expense very quickly.

5.  Most people check either the air conditioner or the heating system depending on the season.  However, most people don't think to check both.  You should check both the air conditioning and the heating system no matter what season it is.  You don't want to buy your home in the summer and then, when the  winter rolls around, find out that your heating system doesn't work and will need to have it repaired or worse to have it replaced.

6.  Test the fireplace.  You need to make sure that your
fireplace is functioning properly and that there are no flaws or blockages that could potentially cause a fire to break out in your new home.

Talk to your realtor for more home inspection recommendations before deciding on which home to buy.  If the home you are considering doesn't pass the muster, keep looking, that's not the only available house in town.  The last thing you want is to move into your new home and then realize you have made a big mistake.

I specialize in helping buyers and sellers invest in real estate in Loudoun County and Northern Virginia.

I have over 25 years experience in the real estate industry.  As a Broker/Owner with Exit Realty Talbot and Company, I bring special tools and solutions that enable me to exceed the expectations of my clientele.  If you are considering listing your property in Loudoun County or the nearby areas, ask me about our latest internet marketing systems.  I would appreciate the opportunity to earn your business.  I am experienced in listing and selling short sales.  For information on the short sale process, please visit  www.LoudounShortSaleSolutions.com.

For a free market analysis on the value of your home, please visit http://www.LoudounHomeValues.com

My past awards and designations include – 2003 President of the Dulles Association of Realtors, 2003 Dulles Area Assoc Realtor of the Year, Salesperson of the year 2000 Dulles Area Assoc of Realtors,  Top Producer awards from both the Dulles Area Association and the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors.  I am a member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network.

I have lived in Loudoun County since 1979.  I am married with two grown children and two grandchildren.  My son in law is my business partner in real estate.  I love to jog in the mornings and spend time relaxing on my Trawler during the summer months.

Loudoun County and Northern Virginia Real Estate Sales and Solutions – Helena Talbot, Broker. I specialize in helping buyers and sellers invest in real estate in the Northern Virginia area to include Loudoun County and surrounding areas including Fairfax, Clarke, Fauquier, Prince William  Counties.  Our local neighborhoods includeLeesburg, Ashburn, Sterling, Potomac Falls, Brambleton, Broadlands, Lansdowne, River Creek, Belmont Country Club, Beacon Hill, Shenstone, Waterford, Lovettsville, Purcellville, Hamilton, Round Hill and Bluemont.                        Cell 703.727.9885    Office 703.574.3800

Free iPhone/Android Mobile App to search Northern Virginia real estate.  2 easy ways to get the App:  Text “Exit9” to 87778 or enter http://87778.mobi/Exit9 into your browser.