What to look for when you're buying a house: MEP

[Juan Diaz]

Hi all,

This is a continuation of an earlier post. What do you need to look out for when you're purchasing a property? How can you spot potential items that need repair? Today's list examines the MEP elements of the property, items that you can look for as you walk through the house.

• Mechanical:
  • oWater heater: is it good quality? Any rust? Water is hot?
  • oHVAC: does it operate well? Are all vents and joists are closed? Any odor? Is the ducting OK?
  • oWasher/dryer: is the existing washer/dryer set good enough for the house, or will you need to upgrade? You also don’t need to have a washer/dryer, but at the minimum you want to make sure that the venting and hookups are functional.
• Electrical:
  • oLight switches: do they work properly?
  • oLight fixtures. Will they stay or do you need to get new ones?
  • oPaneling: Will you have to upgrade the electrical paneling?
  • oWiring: In the exposed wiring, does it look good or poor quality? Are there any open electrical splices?
  • oUpgrades: Is there a GFCI near all sinks?
• Plumbing:
  • oAre there any leaks or mysterious water on the floor?
  • oAre there any leaks near the sinks, dishwasher, or washer?
  • oSinks: do they have adequate flow and pressure?