Home Buy Caution: Walkthrough

As with any sales transaction slick ads and fast talk can result in disappointment or serious regrets later. Your new home buy is a big investment and the product requires careful scrutiny.

Glitzy eye pleasing brochures are designed to appeal and to sell these costly products. As with most promotions it is likely to contain many exaggerations some of which may be serious and costly to the purchaser. There can be very carefully worded promises so as to fit the legal definition of truth. They might seem more like outright lies after the new owner moves in.

"Minutes from downtown" could be 55 minutes, or more. That handsome couple standing on the beach might have had a few traffic lights to maneuver and difficult parking to get there.

Strata fees are very likely to be on the low side and require raising at the first general meeting.

"Top brand appliances" turned out to be just that but were the very bottom of the popular manufacturer's product line. I'm still smarting over that one!!

So every word of every sentence in the spiel, ad or brochure should be carefully analyzed for deception.

The Walkthrough

The quality and completeness of the purchased product covers a very wide range of objects and workmanship and is where the greatest disappointments may lie.

The walkthrough is when the buyer walks through the premises with the contractor or seller. Deficiencies are noted and the buyer signs acceptance upon these items being corrected. Most people aren't prepared for this and the process does not take much time. Costly discoveries may be made after occupancy but it may be too late or difficult to correct.

Using a qualified building inspector is usually recommended for all home purchases. This is especially advisable if a house with a yard is the purchase. Even if a professional is to be hired it should be advantageous to do a self-inspection beforehand to check out details that someone experienced, perhaps in a hurry, might overlook.

Self-inspections are easier for condos and finished home interiors as prospective owners will have a better idea of what they want and should expect.

Make several personal walkthroughs beforehand if permissible and safe.
Have a knowledgeable friend tag along to help find deficiencies.
Carefully look for flaws, inferior work or product, and omissions.
Take along a pad and pen, and checklist.

For the home interior walkthrough the one page printable Interior Walkthrough Checklist should be helpful as a general guide. It may not be complete or suitable to your particular needs but should provide some suggestions about things to check that you normally might not think about. It is not meant to replace a professional inspection.

Interior Walkthrough Checklist


Grampa Ken ~ Author of 32 KEYS About Life and Blogger at Social-Fix


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