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Finding the right Snow Blower for you!
Finding the right Snow Blower for you!
There are all kinds of snow blowers, but the trick is finding one that fits your potential workload. If you've got a long, wide or hilly driveway and you get frequent, heavy snow coverage, you'll want to...
Having Natural Stone Installed In Your Property – The Pitfalls
This last year has seen a large increase in the number of people having natural stone, marble, granite, limestone, sandstone or slate fitted into their homes either as work surfaces or as flooring. No man made product can rival the...
How To Plant Potted Roses
It wasn't too long ago that no serious rosarian would even consider having a potted rose on their property except for, maybe, last minute emergencies where they had run out of space but couldn't resist buying just one more plant.
Times have changed...
Renting Versus Buying A Home
Renters are often in a quandary as to whether it makes sense to continue renting or buy a home. Buying a home makes more sense, particularly when taking a long-term view. Yes, even in the current hot real estate market.
Renting – Advantages
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The Right Time To Buy Your First Home
There are many real estate market forecasts and predictions available - however the bottom line is that if you want to buy your first home—there is no wrong time. This is because the motivation to buy is not determined by regional market conditions...
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Inspecting Your New Home - 17 Areas You Must Inspect Before Taking Possession
Congratulations! You've made your decision; you've chosen your new home and your builder. So what needs to happen next? Once you have a firm contract and you have selected the features that will go into your new home, it is time for the builder to turn your dream into reality.
You will undoubtedly want to visit the building site from time to time during construction to check the progress of your home. Professional builders welcome your participation and enthusiasm; however, for safety reasons you should not enter the actual construction site unless by special appointment-an unauthorized site visit may also contravene the local labour code with respect to construction safety and the builder's liability.
Questions or concerns arising from a site visit or a drive-by should be addressed directly to the builder. The tradespeople on the site each have their own area of expertise and will not be able to discuss your home's progress with you. Nor are they able to make changes without the approval of the builder.
Before you take possession of your new home, the builder will invite you to "walk through" the house to conduct a pre-occupancy inspection. Three to five days before closing is best-when construction is substantially complete but there is still time for the builder to remedy any minor imperfections. Anything that is not to your satisfaction should be noted for a pre-delivery inspection report. Minor items such as scratches and incomplete paint work will be rectified before your move-in day. Other items will be corrected after you are settled.
The following checklist will help you to inspect your new home.
Exterior
- Grading-should be sloping gently away from the house.
- Sod-was it rolled when laid?
- Wood, vinyl or aluminum siding-should be even and nailed securely to the walls.
- Brick-should be evenly laid and clean, with weep holes intact.
- Caulking-check around windows, doors, garage
door, electrical outlets and fixtures.
- Paint and stains-inspect for even coverage and proper colour.
- Trim, shutters, fascia and soffit-must be proper colour, of good quality and securely fastened.
- Shingles-are they clean, of proper colour and with no lifting corners?
- Garage-should feature non-combustible materials on the wall adjoining the house (for instance, gypsum board with sealed joints); the garage door should open and close properly.
Interior
- Basement-should be clean; no cracks in the walls; a floor drain in the lowest part; "healthy" looking wooden joists (a minimum of splitting); instructions and warranty cards for equipment (furnace, heater, HRV, etc.)
- Doors-must be well-fitted and well-hung; secure locks for outside doors and door stops.
- Windows-must open smoothly; lockable.
- Walls-should be smooth and even; no cracks, visible seams or nail-pops; right colour; even paint coverage; no gaps at electrical switches and plugs.
- Floors-minimum of squeaks and "spring"; smooth seams on carpet and other floor covering; even grouting between ceramic tiles.
- Plumbing fixtures-no chips or scratches; faucets operating properly; caulking around counter tops and fixtures.
- Upgrades and options-correct materials and quality; proper installation; right colours.
- General state of cleanliness-no construction debris; clean heating ducts; etc.
You might want to hire a private building inspector or engineer to conduct the inspection for you. Look in the phone book under Building Inspection Services.
About the Author
Visit EquityGazette.com - The Equity Gazette weekly edition of articles about real estate investment and investment property for those interested in real estate investing or even just buying a home.
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