If you are buying your first home, then there are numerous things to think about so that you won’t waste your money. A homeowner can do a lot of things to make a home look wonderful when it actually has several major problems. A home is probably the most expensive thing that you will ever buy in your lifetime, so you must learn how to inspect a building and its lawns.

Verify That a Home Has Adequate Insulation

To avoid high heating and cooling bills, you will want to buy a home that has excellent insulation. You can often see the layers of insulation in a home’s attic, garage or basement, but you can also look for insulation in other ways. Bring along a screwdriver so that you can remove the electrical outlet covers to see how much insulation is inside the walls. Before you do this, make sure to turn off the home’s electrical power, and also, have a flashlight so that you can see inside the dark space.

Check the Home’s Plumbing Fixtures and Water Pipes

It isn’t always easy to check a home’s water pipes and plumbing fixtures because many property owners have the water turned off in an empty building. However, you can use a flashlight to look for water drips or ugly stains underneath the pipes. You can also use your hands to touch the water heater and pipes to check for moisture or corrosion. Before you purchase a home, you should have a plumber inspect the plumbing fixtures and pipes.

Look for Signs of Pests in a Home

While walking through a home, look for the signs of pests, including seeing the urine stains or hard droppings that are left behind by rats and mice. If you see discarded insect exoskeletons, then the home may have an infestation of cockroaches or beetles. Some types of insects create a foul odor from pheromones, but termites leave piles of sawdust-like material in a building. It can cost thousands of dollars to exterminate certain types of pests.

How Old Is the Roof on the Home?

The only way to look at a home’s roof is by climbing on an extension ladder or by using a bucket truck. When you don’t feel safe performing this type of inspection, you must hire a roofing inspector to check a home’s roof. Remember that the current homeowner can paint a home’s ceiling to hide the water spots that occur on drywall after it rains. However, a professional roofer understands how to inspect all of a home’s components to find any potential problems.

Inspect a Home’s Heating and Cooling Equipment

You should check a home’s cooling and heating equipment to ensure that these devices are fully functional so that you will have adequate climate control. In addition, hire a technician who can look at the venting system in a home to make sure that there are no blockages that can cause a buildup of gas such as carbon monoxide.

Work with a Real Estate Agent

Working with a real estate agent is one of the best ways to avoid buying a home that is in terrible condition. A real estate agent understands how to look for the problems inside and outside of a home so that you are paying the appropriate price for a structure that requires repairs. Whether you’re looking to buy, or to sell your home, working with an agent will help you accomplish your goal much more quickly.