Searching for a Havasu home can be very exciting. More likely than not, you’ll be looking at several homes when you go househunting before you find “the one”. At first glance, everything appears top notch. The decor invites you in. Newly painted walls and freshly cleaned carpet makes you feel like this could be a great home to raise your family. However, upon closer inspection, you might find issues lurking just below the surface. When you go out on a Havasu home viewing, keep an eye out for these potential problems.
What to Look for During a Havasu Home Viewing
Signs of Neglect
Keep your eyes open when you do your Havasu home viewing. Do you see rust on the air conditioner unit or the water heater? Does the home look unkempt/messy? Are the roofing shingles broken or appear to have moss growing on them? All of these could be signs of neglect. Your Lake Havasu REALTOR® might be able to track down any service notes on the HVAC, water heater, roofing or other large appliances. You might want to move furniture away from the walls to check for signs of neglect behind it.
Structural and Other Issues
While you perform a Havasu home viewing, pay attention to the ambient air. Is the temperature consistent throughout? Do you feel cold spots in certain areas? This might be an indication that the furnace or thermostat aren’t working properly. Knock on the doors to see if they are solid or hollow-core. Use of lower grade materials here could signify less-than-desirable materials used elsewhere during the home’s construction. Also, open and close interior doors around the house. If they stick or don’t close properly it could demonstrate that either the doors were hung wrong or the foundation has shifted. To see if the house might need an electrical panel upgrade, turn on the lights and then see if they dim when you turn on another appliance nearby.
Moisture Problems/Leaks
Another potential red flag to keep an eye on when you go on a Havasu home viewing is signs of moisture problems or leaks. Soft areas around the windows and toilets could be a sign that water has rotted the wood. And don’t forget smells. If there’s a musty odor in the air, it could also indicate a current or past leak somewhere in the house. When outside, check for any pools of water up against the base of the house.
Nearby Homes for Sale
Finally, when you go on a Havasu home viewing, pay attention to how many “for sale” signs are up around the block. Several homes for sale might indicate a neighborhood issue that homeowners want to get away from. On the other hand, it could mean that people are simply taking advantage of rising sale prices to move into a larger home elsewhere. When you narrow your choices down to one or two, drive through the neighborhood on different days at various times to get a better feel for how busy/quiet the community is in their day-to-day operation.
If you do see any of these potential issues, make a note of it. Then, let the inspector know about your concerns before they perform your home inspection. They can tell you whether or not you should be concerned about these things and how big (or little) of an issue they might be.
Featured Lake Havasu City Property for Sale
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Homes for Sale in Havasu
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