THE STRUCTURE

Look at the house from a distance. Check the walls: do they look flat, or plump in some areas? Then go inside. Check if there any parts in the walls that appear bowed. Ideally they should appear square at the corners. Another trick is to jump in the middle of the floors of each room, but particularly the living room. Does it give in or is it solid?

WATER CONTROL

Check if the ground has a slope. This will determine how water will flow. You should also check if gutters, downspouts and drainage pipes will successfully lead away any excees water away from the main house, or cause it to collect in the basement. You should also inspect for any signs of water damage.

ROOF

Ideally the roof should be new or at least in excellent shape. Check workmanship. Is it neatly and properly constructed?

DETAILS AND FIXTURES

Observe how the house was done, and if the moldings, tilework, hardware and paint were done well. Shoddy worksmanship will have to be repeated so factor that in your costings.

Look also at the fixtures of the kitchen and bath. How are the sinks, toilets and tubs? Open them to see if they work without any problem. Also check the water pressure after turning on the faucets and flushing the toilet;

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Check the receptacles (how many they are, and where they are located). Will they be enough for your needs? Is the main circuit breaker marked at least “100 amps”?

WATER , PLUMBING AND HEAT

Ask if the water heater uses gas (more efficient) or electricity. You should also make sure that any supply pipes connecting the water heater to fixtures are made of copper.

As for heating, ask for the locations of furnace or heater. How many rooms don’t have heating? Also check air conditioning. As for insulation, check that the attack has R-19 (6 inches of fiberglass, for example) if you live in a moderate climates. Very cold climates require up to R-38 (12 inches of fiberglass). Then check wall insulation by removing the receptacle cover on the perimeter wall.

For efficient heating, fireplaces must have screens or glass doors. Check for dampers and log lighters, and whether the house has a combustion vent that circulates air from outside. The chimney must have a spark arrestor.