Would you buy a car if you knew that the oil had never been changed? Probably not. Home purchases are way more significant than a car. For some reason, though, we tend to overlook the considerations that matter most. Unfortunately, I’ve been in newly purchased homes where the homeowner was surprised by the expensive things that needed to be done. It’s similar to the surprise you’d have after buying a car only to find out that it needed a new transmission.
Don’t find yourself in the same predicament. Even though it can feel exciting when you find a home that looks nice, what’s really important is the foundation and infrastructure that holds it all together. Those aspects are just as important as the aesthetic value.
When you’re in the market for a new home, here are the top 3 things you should be paying attention to.
- Has the plumbing system been maintained?
If there are no maintenance records (or if it’s very clear that the plumbing hasn’t been maintained), it’s not the end of the world. However, don’t be surprised when you have costly breakdowns due to lack of maintenance. Just like an unmaintained vehicle, the home’s plumbing system will have a greater chance of a costly breakdown.
If a 10 year old water heater hasn’t been maintained, it’s probably very close to the end of its life. Ask if there was a maintenance agreement, or at least if there was regularly performed maintenance on the plumbing system. Are there any associated records? If you see stickers on the water heater/filter with dates indicating work that was done, there’s a good chance that it’s been maintained. That’s a good sign that you’re probably not going to have a costly breakdown in the near future.
- What’s the age of the plumbing, equipment, and appliances?
The average age of a tank water heater is 8-12 years. The lifespan can be extended to 15-18 years by performing regular maintenance. If you have good water quality, it might even be longer than that. Pay attention to the age of these items (along with what you learned about their maintenance). Remember, the cost of repair isn’t just going to be a couple hundred dollars.
The last thing you want to do is have to replace items unexpectedly because they’re at the end of their lifespan. Even though we might not think about it often, plumbing systems and fixtures don’t last forever. If a 15 year old home hasn’t had anything replaced in it (especially if it hasn’t undergone regular maintenance), you definitely need to expect to incur a significant expense in the plumbing system. On the other hand, if the plumbing items have been replaced and maintained, you might not have an issue.
- What’s the condition of the mainline utilities?
The main sewer line and water line in/out of the house are frequently overlooked. They can run thousands of dollars to replace. If you’re seriously looking to buy a house, it’s a good idea to call a plumber and have them run a camera down the drain. Even though it will cost you a couple hundred dollars, it will save you thousands later. Sometimes during the selling process, you can negotiate a lower price because you’ll have to replace the sewer line.
If you perform these 3 proactive measures, you’ll prevent yourself from becoming stressed or even having to pay a huge sum of money in the long run. If you’re thinking about buying a new home and you’d like to determine the state of its plumbing system, contact us online or give us a call at (540) 685-0366.
