How to Spot Problems on a Property Like a Super Spy (A guide for first-time home buyers)

I think we can both agree buying anything and then later finding out it’s in a not-so-good condition sucks really bad. You’d end up feeling like a sucker, and find yourself stuck between trying to get a refund or getting a replacement.

In most cases, a refund may not happen immediately and in the case of a Home, things tend to escalate really fast. Best case scenario, you end up in court paying legal fees (costing you more money) to the lawyer representing your case while you hope to win the case.

I don’t know about you but that sounds like a realllll hassle to me man, especially when the whole incident could have been simply avoided by keeping your eyes peeled and your head on a swivel.

Now let's get down to business, This is how you can save yourself some money, a trip to the court and a very unnecessary back-and-forth argument with your realtor about who said what and when.

And the best part about these 5 simple steps is that you can do these yourself. I meant it when I said I’ll help save you some money;

1.?Watch out for Soggy Surprises: Water damage is a real-life kryptonite to any property, and that’s why it’s really no surprise that about 15% of home sellers try to hide this information from potential buyers because this type of damage can significantly reduce the value of a property depending on how bad the situation is, which means they'd make less money. So make sure to check ceilings, floors and walls for any suspicious watermark or dampness (Leave no stones unturned). And most importantly use your nose. If the air smells funny, as in Damp or musty then you can bet there’s a high chance of mould and water damage for sure

2.??Watch out for shifty structures or creaky floorboards: You don’t want to wake up one morning to your walls falling or cracks in the floorboard, talk about a mood spoiler. So, Give those walls slight nudges and step on the floors with a little more energy. Any creaks or cracks could be a clue for hidden trouble and we already know it’s better to be safe than sorry. Floorboards have been known to give way over time due to significant pressure over time and in most case this leads to serious injuries and even worse, DEATH.

3.?Check those Switches and Wires for cracks or damages: The electrical wiring of any home is very very important. Cause how else are you going to be able to function in this crazy fast-paced world? Can you imagine your power suddenly tripping off – That means no power to charge up your devices, you certainly won’t be able to make your favourite cup of coffee, and probably no internet for you, and worse of all did you know in the US alone 180 deaths yearly is as a result of faulty wiring which can lead to deadly electrocution? So the next time you notice surges or flickering lights this could be a signal that there could be electrical damage so unless you are a handy electrician or you may want to get an electrician in there.

4.?Watch out for pesky pests: Time to bug out those creepy crawlies. First off having a pest problem is a bigggggg problem. Personally, I take this as a sign that the previous dwellers were occasionally dirty and probably bad homeowners too. And if you’re anything like me you’d high tail it out of there as quickly as possible, in that case, good for you. But, if you like the property so damn much and want to roll the dice then you will be needing an exterminator my friend and make sure to go for the premium package. Don’t be cheap here, 'cause trust me the house needs it.

5.?Roof Recon – Take to the skies Spidey, or at least the attic! Your roof is your shelter man, early homes used to comprise only of support beams and a roof. That’s where the popular saying?"A roof over your head" came about. Whether it's raining heavily, scorching hot, snowing heavily, or during an alien attack a roof is a solid protector. So get up there and check for watermarks, signs of leak, crack or mould

And that's it. If you can cover your base with these steps then any other problem you may encounter during your home-buying process will be easy peasy.

So go out there, save some money and happy home hunting.

P.S. If you have any helpful tips you’ve learned over the years please share with everyone in the comment section below. Ben out!