Is the exterior of the home in good shape and well-maintained? Check for evidence of water around the foundation, which may indicate drainage issues. The ground should slope away from the foundation. Check that driveways and walkways leading up to the house don’t have unusual cracks and aren’t crumbling. Check that the siding of the home is in good repair. Look at the landscaping on the property, the sprinkler system, if there is one, should be in proper working condition.
PROPERTY HISTORY
It’s a good practice to know all that you can about the sales history of the property you have under consideration. Don’t simply settle for the information contained in the listing. Ask your agent for more detailed information. You’ll also need detailed information on the property, most of which will be available from the public records. A bit of research online will disclose information such as: the name of the owner, original age of the home, mortgage history, parcel number, previous sales of the property, property deeds, and any judgments or liens filed against the seller. Information about how much the property taxes are, and whether they’re paid or in arrears, will also be available in the records. The most important information from the above, will be provided by the title company during escrow. You’ll also be able to see if there were permits obtained to make improvements on the home. These permits could complicate the sale of the property if liens were attached by workmen or improvements were not done up to code. Don’t skip this search because it reveals important information about the property in which you’re interested and could save you money. You can get this information through your agent, since most agents subscribe to services that give them access to such
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