First Time Homebuyer Guide To The Final Inspection

Finally, you found the perfect home for sale! Your search might have taken quite sometime but even if you have decided that the home is the one that you are going to purchase, you still have to take the time to do a final inspection. Many first time home buyers neglect to do a final inspection which is one of the most important part of the home buying process. By doing a final inspection before your home purchase, you will be fully aware of the condition of the place that you will be buying.

The final inspection is your opportunity to learn about any major flaws and determine how much they will cost to fix. This will help you make the right offer for the home and also prevent you from overpaying for a house that needs to be completely remodeled or fixed. Here are some important things to check during the final inspection or final walk-through of your prospective home:

1. Major scratches on linoleum floors, countertops or walls. Take a close look at the floors and countertops in the bathrooms and kitchen to make sure there are not any major dents or scratches that would require a complete replacement. Take your time to walk through each area slowly so you don't miss these important details.

2. Inspect the stairs. There may be stairs that lead to the basement, to the next floor or to the attic. Each and every step of the stairs has to be check to see if they are still structurally sound. Walk up and down it, applying pressure on the different areas. Listen for creaks or similar noises and feel if the step gives out when pressure is applied. Check the railings if all posts are complete and if any part is loose by trying to shake it.

3. Test all doors, windows and cabinets. To conduct this test, open and close each one to see if the move with ease. Check the locks, knobs, pulls and hinges to find out if they need to be replaced. This part of the final inspection can be a bit more time consuming and quite tasking but it is to your advantage to be aware of every detail about the home you will be buying.

4. Check the exterior walls. The exterior of a home is one of the most difficult areas to inspect. Look for cracks or chips on the wall as these are signs of a structural problem. You may need to get a professional building inspector to help you out with this step in case you notice a crack or fissure that is quite large.

5. Inspect the roof. To check the roof, you would have to climb up on top of it or at least see if from the gutter level. See if there are signs of damage and determine if the gutters are in good shape. You may want to hire a roofing specialist to do this part of the final inspection.

6. Check all electrical components. Make sure all of the outlets are working properly and that light fixtures are in good shape. These can be expensive to fix or replace, and if these will be your responsibility, you need to know exactly how much these are going to cost. Many first time homebuyers don't think it's necessary to check the electrical components because an electrical contractor will work with the house inspector before the sale. However, you can check for obvious problems before paying the contractor to fix the problem.

If you're looking for homes for sale in MN, there's no better way to find what your looking for then online. Homebuyers can search the Minnesota MLS listings to find properties and realty throughout the state.