6 Tips on Buying a Home in Vancouver – From your Friendly Vancouver Mortgage Broker

6 Tips on Buying a Home in Vancouver – From your Friendly Vancouver Mortgage Broker

Buying a home in Vancouver is probably the largest and most important investment that most people make in their lifetime. You want to get the best possible deal and the last thing you want is to have to spend a bunch of money on repairs or renovations.

It’s natural that we look over the home carefully, but a lot of us aren’t very skilled or knowledgeable about what to look for when we’re checking it out.

As aVancouver mortgage broker, we highly recommend you always use the services of a Vancouver home inspector. Before you go that route you might be able to spot check some things on your own before you shell out the money to get it inspected. 

Here are 6 main things to look at when buying a home in Vancouver

1. The Roof

A roof in poor repair or one that has aged can result in leaks and even mold damage behind the drywall. Roofs use a variety of different materials ranging from shingles to metal. One of the first questions you want to know is to find out the age of the home and whether the roof has been replaced or needed repairs. Most roofing materials generally have a limited duration which is normally anywhere from between 10 – 25 years.

Some vital clues can tell you some things about the quality of the roof. The first thing you want to look for is to see whether the roof sags or whether it doesn’t appear level or warped. Also, look and see if it’s discoloured or has algae or mold on it.

Another clue is to see if any shingles are missing or appear loose or ragged. You also want to check out the eaves trough, the soffits, and the flashing around the chimney and vents.

2. The Foundation

Take a good walk around the exterior of the home and note the exposed areas of the exterior foundation. You are looking for any cracks, signs of crumbling, or clues that the foundation appears concave or shows signs of water damage.

You also want to know if the weeping tiles have been repaired or replaced as they age and crumble over time which can cause leaks in the basement along with foundation damage. Repairing a foundation is a huge expense, so take you time, and ask a lot of questions.

3. The Exterior

Any building material which covers the exterior walls of the home has to be a least 6 inches higher than the ground. If not, they will be subject to water and frost damage, and can be infested by insects such as termites or carpenter ants. You want to make sure that all the exterior walls are in good repair. Look for rot or excess aging from the elements because a new siding job is not cheap.

If it’s a brick exterior, you want to closely examine the pointing and ensure that any stone used is in good shape and there is no sign or deterioration or crumbling.

4. Windows

Examine the windows especially if they older wood framed models and check them out for rot. Older style windows may look nice but they aren’t very energy efficient. Windows need to be well caulked and sealed to keep moisture out even if they are fairly newer models.

5. Basement

When you enter the basement, the first thing you want to note is whether there’s any mildew or musty smell. This is a clear indication of a potential moisture problem, and can be indicative of mould issues.

Look for any discolouration, whitening or stains on the floors and walls. If the basement or crawl space is unfinished, you also want to look for cracks or signs of buckling in the foundation walls. If the walls are enclosed, and you do hire a home inspector, than make sure they are using a moisture detector. Also, look for obvious cracks not just along the walls but also the floor, especially if it is an unfinished basement.

6. Attic

If you can access it you also want to check out the attic. Here, you might find some clues about whether the roof has leak problems and what type of insulation is used or needed. You want to make sure that it is well secured and enclosed because the last thing you want is a family of racoons making your attic their home.

There is one tip that thisVancouvermortgage broker would most definitely recommend because if you decide to proceed further in buying a home, then spend the extra bucks on a home inspector because it’s a worth while investment.