How to Buy a Home

• Inspecting Your Home

When you have found a home you like, We will arrange an inspection. This is an overview of what the inspection covers and what we will check for, prior to closing!

• special taxing districts to be sure you won’t be socked with big assessments in the future.
• access roads and streets are maintained by a municipality (unless they are private which would require a written joint maintenance agreement with neighbors). 
• restrictive covenants to be sure you can live within the confines of the rules and regulations.
• a survey to be sure the home, decks, porches, patios, outbuildings, structures and landscaping are within your legal property lines.
• utilities are accessible and easily maintained by utility companies without having to destroy buildings and landscaping within your property lines.
• If serviced by a well, have water tested for potability and test the well output to be sure it falls within acceptable standards. Check the incoming service line and pressure tank for leaks.
• If serviced by a septic system, have the system inspected including the tank, leach field and service line. Be sure there is access for cleaning out the lines. Have the system pumped.
• If serviced by city water, be sure the meter is operating properly and check the service line for leaks.
• If serviced by public sewer, check the service line for leaks, roots and other obstructions.
• If there are any questions or doubts, hire individual experts to do further examinations. (For example, if the foundation is in question, hire a structural engineer.)
• we will always get a disclosure statement prior to closing. In this statement sellers must reveal any known defects.
• If the home requires repairs, we will negotiate either a reduction in price to cover the repairs or have the seller get a certified specailist to have the problems fixed.