Buying a new home in Columbia, SC always comes with a certain level of risk. No matter what sort of open house you attend or how many inspectors you have look at it, you never really know if there is something that homeowners are hiding that may rear its ugly head when you least expect it.
Check the Pipes!
One of the most important things that potential buyers fail to do is to check the pipes in the basement. Many modern-day homes come with a furnace in the basement to pipe in hot water to various rooms. However, over time, the pipes tend to experience a considerable level of corrosion, especially those that were created prior to the late 1990s, where there was less of an emphasis on using materials with anti-corrosive properties. Always check the pipes in the basement and make sure that they are free from excessive corrosion. If you do notice something, you have two options. The first is to simply look at other homes. The other option is to talk to the sellers and see if they are willing to bring down the price based on how much work the pipes need.
Check the Tiles!
Another neglected area that homeowners fail to inspect are the various bathrooms and areas in the home that extensively utilize tile. You need to check if grout restoration is needed. This can be done by examining whether the tiles are loose or if the grout has been removed due to the normal process of wear and tear. While grout restoration is not as expensive as replacing the pipes in your basement, it is still an added cost that you need to take into consideration prior to purchasing a home.
Check the Roof!
The last neglected area that you need to inspect is the roof, preferably the attic. While roofs these days are made out of very resilient materials, the fact remains that they do experience a considerable amount of wear and tear depending on where a home is located. You need to inspect the structural integrity of the roof and determine whether repairs will be needed. The best way to do this is to simply look in the attic and see if there are discolored patches. These are indicative of water damage and are a good way of determining whether the shingles or even the boards of the roof itself need to be replaced.
All in all, if you follow the advice given in this article, you can avoid a bad purchasing decision.
