There’s a lot to take in when you’re touring a house that’s had previous occupants. It can be easy to overlook potential issues during a 20-minute tour.

Having a realtor accompany you and ordering a home inspection if you eventually decide to buy it, can help you get a clearer picture of a home.

You can shop for a new home with confidence at Brookfield Residential. Explore a variety of new home options, including single-family houses, condos, and duplexes. Contact us to explore Brookfield Residential communities. We are here to help you find a new home you’ll love.

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6 Things to Look for When Touring a Resale House

Know a few things to look for when you tour a house that’s on the market.

• What’s Included & Excluded in the House Sale

  • What’s generally included
    • Fixtures: Installed or affixed items such as planted trees, lighting fixtures, curtain rods
    • Items in the sales contract the seller agrees to include
  • What’s generally not included
    • Furniture, appliances, decor
      • Tip: Take photos of items and of serial numbers on appliances the seller has agreed to include in the sale
    • Excluded items: Fixtures the seller excludes in the sales contract

• Kitchen & Bath Concerns

  • Be concerned about:
    • Mold: Smelled or seen
    • Inadequate water pressure: Turn on faucets, flush toilets
    • Leaks: Look under sinks for links and mold
    • Old or inadequate water pipes: Corrosion, leaks

• DIY

  • Exposed electrical wiring
  • Multiple incomplete repairs
  • Partitioned or added walls not built to code
  • Poorly installed flooring

• Uncleanliness

  • Lingering smells or signs of animal or human waste or smoking
  • Unclean air filtering through items such as exhaust fans
  • Built-up filth in corners

• Unpleasant Décor

• Costly replacement
  • Fixtures like bathtubs, hard flooring, cabinetry, windows and countertops
• Not usually costly to replace
  • Unpleasing paint colors, carpet, window treatments and towel holders

• Sloppy Neighbors

  • Peer over the fence: Discarded appliances, vehicles, trash in yards
  • Surrounding homes and outbuildings in disrepair
  • Cars, tree branches, bushes encroaching on neighboring properties