 |
Water pressure: Turn
on faucets on the top floor. Make sure water flow is adequate. |
|
Heating and Air: If
summer, is it cool on the top floor? If winter, is it warm
on the ground floor? |
|
Moisture: water
stains on ceilings, damp basement walls or musty odors are all
signs of possible water damage. |
|
Cracks in
plaster walls might mean nothing, but all cracks should be
investigated by a professional, especially cracks around
fireplaces or in foundation walls. |
|
Uneven floors: floors
that are not level could mean the house is sinking. It might
have done all its settling in the first year and has been stable
since, but have it checked. |
|
Loose doors:
Look for light coming in around and under exterior doors. These
might need insulation or refitting. |
| |
Alignment: Doors not perfectly
vertical. If you can see more space between a door and its
frame at one end than at the other, the door is
installed improperly and will eventually stick or fail to lock. |
|
Sticky doors &
windows: Hard to open windows are not a serious problem, but
it's a good negotiation point. Ask for a few hundred
dollars off the price or some other concession from the seller. |
|
Tilted stairways:
Like uneven floors, tilted stairways indicate movement in the
foundation. Make a note and discuss with your inspector. |
