https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 22 Apr 2026 04:21:08 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-when-viewing-a-house-to-purchase#post-2138138 Thu, 09 Apr 2015 11:22:44 +0000 gingerbebe 2138138@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Look at landscaping in backyard. Was the soil and patio graded away from the house to shed rainwater? Is there a French drain system installed? You don't want a bog in the backyard because the water sits and doesn't drain and French drains are expensive to have installed. Sprinklers? Any high maintenance plants or trees? Arborists are expensive!</p> <p>Look at the baseboards behind all the toilets, the walls behind the washer, and along the tubs for signs of water leakage. </p> <p>Look for which way the house faces to determine the light at what time of day and how light/hot it might make your master bedroom. </p> <p>Go by the house at different times of day and even at night. Scope out if it's noisy, traffic sounds, etc. </p> <p>Look at the floor around the water heater for signs of leaks - it may just be an issue with the pipe connecting the water heater but you want it fixed.</p> <p>If it's a two story house I would want dual zone heating and cooling and an upstairs laundry room. </p> <p>Definitely check for noise leakage - we did the scream test all the time.</p> <p>Check under all sinks for signs of leaks.</p> <p>Check any fencing - it's a pain to replace in conjunction with neighbors and expensive. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-when-viewing-a-house-to-purchase#post-2138004 Thu, 09 Apr 2015 10:31:09 +0000 sunny 2138004@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Amount of daylight in the home<br /> Noise leakage through the walls (we shouted a bit to test it out)<br /> Condition of the floors (maybe lift up furniture/rugs) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-when-viewing-a-house-to-purchase#post-2138002 Thu, 09 Apr 2015 10:29:31 +0000 autumnleaves 2138002@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We went with the most detailed home inspection (they had 3 levels to choose from) and since our house was built in the 1980s we wanted to know all the nuances that needed to be addressed. The inspector caught some issues with siding/rot but not all of them. You may also want to go in the attic and crawl space to see the bones of the house are like - framing, electric, insulation. etc. Check the woodwork on the windows and porch/deck and see if there is anything that may need repairs with that. We also have a crack in our toilet that is more complicated than just replacing the toilet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-when-viewing-a-house-to-purchase#post-2137954 Thu, 09 Apr 2015 10:12:40 +0000 catlady 2137954@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Plumbing and HVAC. Those were/are our biggest headaches and regrets about the house we live in right now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-when-viewing-a-house-to-purchase#post-2137948 Thu, 09 Apr 2015 10:08:36 +0000 MaryM 2137948@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>But really, any of this structural stuff would come up in the home inspection. So you'd be able to back out they came up then. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-when-viewing-a-house-to-purchase#post-2137936 Thu, 09 Apr 2015 10:04:24 +0000 mrscobee 2137936@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Cracks in walls, abnormal deflection (sinkage) in floor, roof, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-when-viewing-a-house-to-purchase#post-2137918 Thu, 09 Apr 2015 09:58:52 +0000 swurlygurl 2137918@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Make sure you don't have a wasp nest in the chimney :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-when-viewing-a-house-to-purchase#post-2137912 Thu, 09 Apr 2015 09:57:30 +0000 MaryM 2137912@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Roofs are terribly expensive. Take a look and see if there are significant dark spots or places where shingles are coming up. </p> <p>also look at the HVAC systems. If they're regularly maintained, often the company that does it will note when the last maintenance was done. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-when-viewing-a-house-to-purchase#post-2137840 Thu, 09 Apr 2015 09:28:18 +0000 Truth Bombs 2137840@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The biggest thing to me is picking a house that has a flow/lay out that will be convenient for your daily life. For me things that were deal breakers were things that would bother me every day (if the kitchen wasn't open to the living room so I couldn't keep an eye on my daughter while I cook, if laundry was in the basement and I would need to haul clothes up and down two flights on stairs, etc). Most other things in a house can be lived with/dealt with in the future. It's the inspection where you really want to be picky about what you'll accept and what you won't. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-when-viewing-a-house-to-purchase#post-2137839 Thu, 09 Apr 2015 09:27:17 +0000 bunnylove08 2137839@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>when the hot water heater and boiler was installed (those usually have a 7-10 year life span) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-when-viewing-a-house-to-purchase#post-2137836 Thu, 09 Apr 2015 09:26:27 +0000 bunnylove08 2137836@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>any types of cracks in the walls or foundation. </p> <p>water damage on ceiling and basement </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-to-look-for-when-viewing-a-house-to-purchase#post-2137813 Thu, 09 Apr 2015 09:16:44 +0000 jetsa 2137813@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're viewing a house for the 2nd time today. The sellers have been playing hard-ball as we negotiate and we want to make sure we are not missing anything.</p> <p>The home is relatively new, 2003, and all the kitchen appliances were replaced last year.</p> <p>So what else should we watch out for? </p>