3 Things To Look For When Buying A Home

Purchasing a home for sale is perhaps the most important financial decision of anybody's life, and so of course it is hardly one that should be taken lightly. Especially if you are purchasing a home for the first time, you may not be aware of what to look for in a home, and what things represent a solid investment. So if you are planning on buying a home in the near future, take a look below at three things that you may not think of at first, but that are absolutely crucial to making a good purchase.

Roofing

When most people start looking at homes, they consider things like the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and the flow of the floor plan. While these things are certainly important, perhaps no other part of your house represents a bigger investment than the roof. A quality roof should last the lifetime of a house with only minor repairs, so ensuring that the roof is in good shape is one of the first things you should do when you inspect a house. A home with poorly done roofing can add tens of thousands of dollars when all is said and done.

Insulation

Even more so than roofing, insulation perhaps proves that when something is out of sight, it is usually out of mind. Many homeowners fail to ask any questions at all about insulation, which sometimes results in unforeseen consequences. Old or inadequate insulation can often mean heating and cooling bills that are several times what they should normally be, which - over the course of even a single year - can break the bank. It is far better to pay a little more up front than figure out too late that better insulation was the solution all along.

Plumbing

Like insulation, the majority of your home's plumbing system is going to be in places you're likely to never see. That said, you can spot bad plumbing if you're observant. Look for water damage or mold in corners of every room, especially rooms on the lower floor or the basement. Mold presents a special set of hazards that can cause health problems over time if left untreated, and so it is best to address plumbing issues before you ever sign on the purchase of a home. Moving into a new place should be spent choosing paint colors and furniture, and not wondering if the plumbing works as advertised.