Finding a Home

Searching online and exploring the neighborhood you want to live in can be a great start. Your real estate agent will also point out homes that match your goals and can help you keep an eye out for new homes on the market.

If you decide to make an offer in your home purchasing mission, a home inspector will complete a more thorough review of the home, but there are some potential red flags you can look for upfront yourself:

• Plumbing and electrical issues – Check all the light switches and electrical outlets. Make sure the faucets and toilets don’t leak and look for evidence of water damage on the floors and ceilings.
• Old appliances, chimneys, and gas furnaces – If these items are older or haven’t been serviced recently, you may need to have them cleaned, repaired, or replaced after buying.
• Radon, lead paint, and carbon monoxide – Ask the seller if the house has been tested for any of these. If it hasn’t, you can have these tests done as part of the inspection.
• Full or defective gutters – If the home’s gutters are full or not working properly, they may be allowing rainwater to pool near the foundation of the home. This can be an expensive problem to fix.
• Tree location and quality – Try to assess the likelihood that a tree might fall on the house during a storm or strong winds.

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