Doing a Home Inspection / Walkthrough - Any suggestions?

[AKA Pearl]

Summerchild-

You aren't far from me at all! Actually, my church is on Casade. Wow..small world.

Wonderful 1908 had some wonderful advice. Take a colored pencil with you and circle any defiency that you see. Check the windows. We didn't and the 1st floor of my house is always cold during the winter

With the way the housing market is, they should fall all over themselves fixing everything. They REALLY need you more than you need them. Isn't that wonderful? Good luck to you!

[justabeachbrat]

Are there other residents moved in, yet?
If so, knock on a few doors, reasonable hours, ask, have you had any problems?
I do this at apartments I've checked out and some don't answer, but a few did, and just said...noooo...don't do it, and why.
Walking the area where my dad was going to buy a house helped him find out there were foundation problems, cracks, that quickly showed up in new homes. And a few people who had put in pools had cracks in them, too.

[SummerChild]

JBB, that is a great idea! I sent an email to the HOA rep that i've been in contact with about some other stuff and am trying to catch him on the phone before the re-scheduled walkthough on Monday.
I might also drop by and talk with a couple of neighbors this weekend. Besides, I want to know who is parking their cars on the street. No street parking but they are doing it anyway...and it is not looking very nice to me. We'll have to fix that too. Ok, I know that I'm extra. I already know that....

SC

Originally Posted by justabeachbrat

Are there other residents moved in, yet?
If so, knock on a few doors, reasonable hours, ask, have you had any problems?
I do this at apartments I've checked out and some don't answer, but a few did, and just said...noooo...don't do it, and why.
Walking the area where my dad was going to buy a house helped him find out there were foundation problems, cracks, that quickly showed up in new homes. And a few people who had put in pools had cracks in them, too.

[mccoyred]

Watch 'Holmes on Homes' on the Discovery Home network. He points out and fixes common problems caused by shoddy contracting work. Lots of good info to educate yourself about.

[ladygreek]

Also turn on the stove and oven and check the vent fan. Flush all the toilets for good water pressure while sinks and showers are on. If you have a gas/electric fireplace turn it on. If it is wood burning have the inspectors check the chimney and the cap to make sure animals cannot enter.

Spaces between hardwood floor planks--hmmmm, doesn't sound right to me.

You are right to be extra careful, especially with a new build. Congrats on the new house.

[SummerChild]

Wow Soror. Which do you attend? Do you live in the area? Shoot me a PM. We were scheduled for the first walkthrough today but they got it upside down so we're headed back on Monday. Anywho, my agent finessed it so that we did a partial walkthrough today anyway and we'll just end up getting an extra one!

I ended up having two inspections and one found that most of the windows did not lock b/c of some problem - who knows. the doors, same thing - didn't close. Only thing major is we want to know why furnace filter for furnace in attic has insulation on it. We'll have the builder look into that further.

All that I can say is that anyone buying a new house, really needs an INSPECTION just the same as someone buying a resale. The balusters were loose, rails loose on the stairs, see through paint where you can see words coming through the paint from the wood, oversized vents on ceilings, ducts that are almost cutting off air/heat to some rooms b/c they are crimped so badly in the attic. Whew! it is a little bit of a mess so far. although it looks so nice. you would never know...but i'd be ticked after paying them *all* their money and not getting *all* the house i'm supposed to. and who has time (after closing) to take off from work and wait for the contractors to drag their behinds back to fix stuff that was supposed to be fixed the first time? not doing it.

ok, i'm rambling. but everyone should consider getting an INSPECTION - even if the home is brand new. there is so much inattention to detail and shoddy workmanship out there. it is just terrible.

SC

Originally Posted by AKA Pearl

Summerchild-

You aren't far from me at all! Actually, my church is on Casade. Wow..small world.

Wonderful 1908 had some wonderful advice. Take a colored pencil with you and circle any defiency that you see. Check the windows. We didn't and the 1st floor of my house is always cold during the winter

With the way the housing market is, they should fall all over themselves fixing everything. They REALLY need you more than you need them. Isn't that wonderful? Good luck to you!