New buying an older home tips

First and Second Floors

Interior Finishes

1. Check the finished wall surface for uneven paint coverage. Make sure that all dents, staple holes and drywall nail pops are filled and painted. Take a mirror with you to make sure the tops and bottoms of the doors have been painted or sealed. Unsealed wood doors could warp. Make sure that the color on the walls and trim are the same colors that you have selected.

Floors

Squeaks and spring in the floor should be at a minimum.
- Check the seams in the carpet. They should be tight and should almost be invisible. Check the carpet at the baseboards, there should be no visible gaps. The carpet piles should run in the same direction and with the dye lots all same. Inspect the carpet for any stains.
- Ceramic tiles should be level with uniform grout lines. Check for any chips or hair line cracks in the tiles. The baseboard or finishing trim should sit tightly on top of the tile. Make sure all joints between tiles are completely filled with grout and all excess grout has been wiped clean from the tile surface.
- Hardwood floors should be checked for any scratches or gauges in the finish. Check for any excessive gaps or cracks between boards. The baseboard or finishing trim should sit tight on the top of the hardwood floor with no gaps.
- Vinyl flooring should be checked for any scratches, marks or opened seams. Check for any excess glue left on the vinyl or any bubbles in the floor. The vinyl flooring should lay flat and be well laminated.

Trim and Doors


- All trim should butt tightly together. Check for any cracked, split, chipped or gauged trim. All nail or staple holes should be filled before painted.
- Doors should be fitted properly within the frame and operate with ease. Locks and hardware should not rattle when the door is closed. Hinges should not be painted. There should be a door stop at every door. Kitchen


- Take a close look at the counter-top, cupboard doors for noticeable scratches.
- Check the sink for any scratches or stains. Strainers and stops should be in place.
- Check the openings left in the counter-tops and cabinetry to make sure there is enough room for the appliances. Thirty inches for a fridge and stove is standard. If you have a dish-washer, make sure it is hooked up and tested.
- Any vents for a hood fan over the stove should be connected vented outside, unless it is a charcoal filtered appliance.
- All cabinet doors should be adjusted so that they open and close properly. The doors should be level with all handles and knobs installed.

New home buying tips, free advice and trouble shooting will be available to Homebuyer Friendly members. Homebuyer Friendly will be there for you during the construction phase of your home and well after, available to answer any questions that you have about the construction of your new home or addition.

	Our services don't stop at the hard copy.

Home page | About Us | Contact Us | Home Buying Tips
Order our Book | Disclaimer | Discussion Forum | Site Map