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Colorado Springs
Don’t let the big ticket items surprise you
Buying a home in Colorado Springs? Don’t forget about the big ticket items
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Since I work with many first time home-buyers looking at homes in the Colorado Springs area, I really like to help educate them on what components of a house they should look closely at. Of course, real estate is and probably will always be about location, location, location. But once a buyer finds the perfect location and the perfect floor plan, then they should really focus on the condition of the house.
A qualified home inspector (see Appraisals and Inspections, 2 important steps for home buyers article) will help immensely with going through the major components of a house; but I still think it’s a good idea for potential buyers to have a mental check list of things they should be looking at. If a buyer knows up front that there are problems with the house, they can then keep that in mind when submitting their offer to the seller. My mantra………. an educated buyer can make better decisions.
What are the big ticket money items?
Here’s my list of the seven big items I think buyers should focus on:
- Roof - How does it look? Are there shingles missing? What type of roof is it? Is it shake shingle? Is it Woodruff? It is concrete? Are the shingles curling on the edges? Is there one or two layers of shingles, or even 3 layers? Can you see dips in the roof? Do you see any signs of water damage in the ceilings or on the walls?
- Windows - Are they old? Do they need replacing? Are the seals broken? Do then open and close? How is the wood around the windows? Do they feel drafty? (see related article: Colorado Springs home Improvement — it’s all about the windows)
- Exterior siding or woodwork - Is it rotting or do pieces of it need replacing? Or does it just need painting? If the home has a stucco exterior, how’s it look? Are there major cracks in the stucco?
- Kitchen - Does it need to be updated? Does it still have original cabinets, original flooring, original appliances?
- Bathrooms – Do they need to be updated? Are they a flashback from the 70’s with mauve bathtubs and green toilets?
- Basement - Is it dry or are there signs of water?
- Furnace - How does the furnace look. Is it old or rusty? Can you tell is if has recently been inspected? (Related article: When and why should I replace my furnace?)
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