Home Buyer's Checklist: Everything You Need to Know--but Forget to Ask--Before You Buy a Home

by Irwin, Robert

• ISBN13: 9780071373807
• ISBN10: 0071373802
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-08-15
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill

Summary

Everyone who has bought a home knows that an official inspection is no guarantee against unpleasant surprises, and that, ultimately, the burden to ask the important questions about the physical aspects of a home is on the home buyer. But buying a home is one of life's most stressful, emotionally fraught activities, and it's easy to see why many home buyers fail to anticipate the kinds of exasperating and expensive problems that can crop up after closing.Written by bestselling real estate author (more than 1 million books sold) Robert Irwin,Home Buyer's Checklistlevels the playing field by equipping home buyers with a comprehensive list of questions pertaining to all the physical aspects of a house that may not be covered in an official inspection. From basement to attic, pantry to lawn, Bob walks readers through every room, nook, cranny, closet and keep, asking important questions about windows, screens, doors and door frames, fireplaces, light fixtures, moldings, and much, much more. And, drawing upon his many years of experience in the business, he provides pointers on how to deal with each problem, including information on how much it will cost to fix, how to estimate its short- and long-term consequences, how it should impact on the negotiating process, and more.

Author Biography

Robert Irwin, one of America's leading experts in all areas of real estate, is the author of more than 40 books, including McGraw-Hill's best-selling Tips and Traps series. For more real estate tips and traps, go to www.robertirwin.com.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Interior	1	(67)
Windows, Doors, and Door Frames	1	(5)
Wood Flooring	6	(3)
Tile and Masonry Flooring	9	(4)
Vinyl Flooring	13	(3)
Carpeting	16	(3)
Ceilings	19	(3)
Walls and Wall Finishes	22	(3)
Light Fixtures, Switches, and Plugs	25	(4)
Kitchen Cabinets	29	(2)
Kitchen Counters	31	(3)
Kitchen Appliances	34	(3)
Bathroom Counters and Fixtures	37	(3)
Bathroom, Plumbing Fixtures	40	(4)
Bathroom Tile, Ceilings, Walls, and Floors	44	(3)
Mirrors	47	(2)
Fireplaces and Heaters	49	(5)
Crawl Space	54	(3)
The Basement	57	(4)
Stairways	61	(3)
The Attic	64	(4)
Exterior	68	(35)
Exterior Maintenance and Color	68	(4)
Siding and Trim	72	(4)
Porch and Deck	76	(4)
Gutters	80	(4)
Roof	84	(4)
Foundation (Exterior)	88	(3)
Doors	91	(5)
Windows	96	(2)
Garbage Can Space	98	(3)
Ribbosj Accumulation	101	(2)
The Foundation	103	(11)
Foundations and Slabs	103	(4)
The Foundation Supports	107	(3)
The Slab	110	(4)
Infrastructure	114	(21)
Plumbing and Pipes	114	(3)
Heating and Furnace	117	(7)
Electrical	124	(2)
Air-Conditioning	126	(3)
Water Heater	129	(3)
Water	132	(3)
Safety Issues	135	(12)
Detectors	135	(3)
Asbestos	138	(3)
Lead	141	(3)
Formaldehyde	144	(1)
Radon	145	(2)
Land and Landscaping	147	(45)
View	147	(3)
Boundaries	150	(2)
Soils and Rocks	152	(2)
Utilities	154	(4)
Driveways and Walkways	158	(4)
Landscaping	162	(3)
Bushes and Shrubs	165	(2)
Lawn	167	(3)
Trees	170	(4)
Fences and Walls	174	(9)
Sewer and/or Septic	183	(3)
Pool and Spa	186	(4)
Garage and/or Carport	190	(2)
Layout, Color, and Design	192	(11)
The Front of the House	192	(4)
The Living Areas	196	(1)
The Kitchen	197	(2)
The Master Bedroom and Bath	199	(2)
The Backyard	201	(2)
Other Considerations	203	(6)
Neighborhood	203	(3)
Pests	206	(3)
Glossary	209	(14)
Index	223