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 Things to Look For When Viewing a Home

We strongly recommend a home inspection, and this is not intended to replace one. But it’s easy to keep an eye out for red flags and problem areas in a home. In my experience, when a home has obviously not been maintained on the surface…..you can bet that major systems haven’t been taken care of either.

I wanted to give you an overview of a few things to notice when you are viewing homes for sale.

Exterior

• Upon arrival, notice the roof. Does it have discoloration? This can mean either mold or poor attic ventilation. Are the shingles laying flat or are they curled?
   

• How about the yard and landscaping? Has it been maintained?
   

• Are splash blocks installed under the downspouts? If not, water could be running under the house or into the crawl space every time it rains. Water is the worst enemy a house can have.
   

• Notice any rust spots on the gutters. This could cause leaks and water damage.
   

• Cracks or lifting of the concrete driveway could indicate a leaking water line or tree roots coming up. Either should be addressed.
   

• Cracked brick or mortar joints could indicate settling or foundation problems.
   

• Any discoloration around the foundation also indicates water problems.
   

• Check for any wood that makes contact with dirt. This is a favorite place for termites to eat their lunch.
   

• Is any firewood stored up against the house? Again….termites! Dirt, wood and water are their favorite combination.
   

• Do you know that a termite inspection doesn’t cover landscape timers? They can be full of termites….but not indicated on the report.

Interior

• The importance of a kitchen can't be overlooked when viewing a home for sale.  Does it flow well..... does it work for you?  Experts tell us that the applicances need to be arranged in a triangle to be efficient.  Are the appliances up-to-date or need to be replaced?  Do you see any evidence of water leakage under the sink or dishwasher?
  

• Do you smell any musty odor when you walk in? This indicates mold or moisture problems.
   

• How about the windows? Do you see any condensation between the panes? These will have to be replaced.
   

• Do you see any cracks in the walls? This could indicate settling or foundation problems.
   

• You should always look for any discoloration on walls, ceilings, concrete blocks or vinyl floors.
   

• Check for any water damage under the sinks, toilets, showers and dishwasher. This could mean putting in a new floor.
   

• Be sure to open and close the garage door to make sure it operates correctly. Also…does it have a detector that would prevent a child from danger?
   

• Take a look inside the circuit breaker box. Does it look neat and organized….or are there wires everywhere?
   

• If the home has a basement, look carefully for any water stains on the concrete block. This is very hard to correct.
   

• Be aware of possible attempts to cover problems with new paint, etc. This doesn’t happen often, but if in doubt….always ask questions.

Be sure to contact us with any questions. We look forward to hearing from you!

Remember, you have a friend in Nashville Real Estate.  We are Exclusive Buyer's Agents - always working exclusively for you - 100%.  Hope to hear from you very soon!

Accent Realty Group

Pam Rumley
Exclusive Buyers Agent
Broker, CRS, ABR, SRES, e-PRO
409 Shute Lane Hendersonville, TN
Office 615-826-0305
Direct 615-428-8500

Fax 615-826-0389
Toll Free 1-866-359-2800
pam@pamrumley.com

The agent to call when you need someone to go that extra mile!