For Professionals
Buying your first home is a very big deal. No matter what your life experiences may have been, this can be a trying experience. The impact of this life-changing purchase affects different people in different ways, but after the dust clears, there is one emotion we never want our first-time buyer clients to feel: remorse.
Since you are new to such an important purchase, you are bound to be extra cautious. You might think since this is such a life changing transaction that it is wildly unlikely you would overlook any major missteps. Yet when you consider the challenging distractions along the way (going through your first mortgage approval process; scraping together a down payment; learning how inspections proceed, etc.) it’s easy to see how they can trip up a first time buyer. Getting any one of them dealt with can become a main preoccupation…so much so, that seemingly minor issues get overlooked.
A common concern to watch for is Foundation Problems – The true frustration of dealing with a home with foundation problems is something a first time buyer may not fully appreciate. They aren’t for the faint of heart (or the faint of pocket book). Foundation problems can cost quite a bit — but a first time home buyer usually doesn’t have that expectation. If an inspection reveals any sort of foundation issue, it’s an absolute ‘must’ to call in the experts to assess the severity of the problem – no matter what the time pressures may be.
Don’t wait until after the purchase to investigate a possible foundation problem. Call in a qualified foundation repair expert or structural engineer and have them give you their professional opinion. Knowing all your options allows you to make an educated decision when it comes to buying your first home.
This is great advice. I have a friend (who lives out of state) who did not call a structural engineer in. To her dismay she found that the poor grading outside the house had caused water to damage the foundation’s integrity. SO much money in repairs (not to mention her first months in her dream home were spent with the yard ripped apart and the basement in shambles).