If you are in the market to purchase a home, it can be easy to fall in love at first sight. Well, Ted Bundy may have looked like a dreamboat, but we all know what he did to those young ladies, right? You may think a home looks splendiferous from outside, but quality, and sometimes the "devil" of poor upkeep, is in the details.
Windows
If you are considering buying a home, you should have a checklist of things to review for the property. As the old adage goes, and perhaps you know this - eyes are the window to a person's soul. Here are just a few pointers to consider, because after all, windows are akin to eyes, and every property does have a "soul" of its own:
The first item to check is whether the windows open and close properly. Quality windows should slide easily and with little noise. A low-quality window would make irritating noises and stick to their spot. If you notice that one or more windows cannot open or close, you must find out the reason why. Is it because the windows are of poor quality, or is the house's foundation causing it to move? Determine the reason why and act accordingly.
Is there a mushy consistency to the sills of the window which you would find at the base? Often you can identify a soft sill by a "rotted" look, but make sure to run your hand across the sills with light pressure to see if there are any soft spots. If you find a problem, warning lights should be going off in your mind. A mushy sill means there is a water penetration problem. What should really get you alarmed would be the possibility this is a long-term problem. Long-term water problems can mean the existence of mold and mold can be an expensive problem to fix. If you are really interested in the home, demand an inspection paid for by the seller. If the seller refuses to play along, it's their loss, not yours - go see somebody else.
Water stains are the final window item to check for during your viewing. Just because the sills are not soft, doesn't mean there isn't a leakage problem. There would definitely be a water issue if you notice stains around the window frame. Look for rooms that have not been painted when making your inspection. Put on your "game face" and ask of the seller that they state on the sales agreement that before they repainted the house, there were no water stains present.
Windows are indeed the soul of a home - so pay attention to their "purity" before buying property. Giving them a good "once over" should tell you a lot about the house you are considering.
Windows
If you are considering buying a home, you should have a checklist of things to review for the property. As the old adage goes, and perhaps you know this - eyes are the window to a person's soul. Here are just a few pointers to consider, because after all, windows are akin to eyes, and every property does have a "soul" of its own:
The first item to check is whether the windows open and close properly. Quality windows should slide easily and with little noise. A low-quality window would make irritating noises and stick to their spot. If you notice that one or more windows cannot open or close, you must find out the reason why. Is it because the windows are of poor quality, or is the house's foundation causing it to move? Determine the reason why and act accordingly.
Is there a mushy consistency to the sills of the window which you would find at the base? Often you can identify a soft sill by a "rotted" look, but make sure to run your hand across the sills with light pressure to see if there are any soft spots. If you find a problem, warning lights should be going off in your mind. A mushy sill means there is a water penetration problem. What should really get you alarmed would be the possibility this is a long-term problem. Long-term water problems can mean the existence of mold and mold can be an expensive problem to fix. If you are really interested in the home, demand an inspection paid for by the seller. If the seller refuses to play along, it's their loss, not yours - go see somebody else.
Water stains are the final window item to check for during your viewing. Just because the sills are not soft, doesn't mean there isn't a leakage problem. There would definitely be a water issue if you notice stains around the window frame. Look for rooms that have not been painted when making your inspection. Put on your "game face" and ask of the seller that they state on the sales agreement that before they repainted the house, there were no water stains present.
Windows are indeed the soul of a home - so pay attention to their "purity" before buying property. Giving them a good "once over" should tell you a lot about the house you are considering.
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