New Orleans real estate took a big hit with the multitude of hurricanes that have passed through the area in recent years. This means that there are deals to be had because a lot of people packed up and never looked back. Now, while there are some great buys in the New Orleans real estate market, they are going to come with a lot of work. You can walk through a home to see the obvious damage like water stains and that will give you an idea of what to expect. But, to find out just how much work is needed, you need to make sure the home inspection is thorough. Some things can be covered under the contract, but others you will have to fix yourself. Here's what you need to look for when going over your home inspection: * Exterior Structure Your home inspector will be checking for cracks, obvious wood rot and the integrity of the roof. Are there shingles missing, holes in the roof, etc.? He will also make sure the driveway is in good shape as well as the trim, fascia and gutters. If there are obvious drainage issues, he will make a note of it as well. * Interior Structure Again, he makes sure there are no cracks in the walls and foundation. The floor is also checked for weak spots and water damage as well as the ceiling. Because of the severe flooding, these are very important items on your New Orleans real estate home inspection checklist. Also included in the inspection are the appliances, if any come with the home. * Wiring and Plumbing It is likely that there will be electrical damage as a result of the flooding and high winds. The plumbing may have backed up and burst as well. Are the conditions safe or are bare wires hanging, etc.? Also, because there are many old homes in the area, you want to make sure that pipes and wires are compliant with current safety codes. * Extras to ask for The above issues are general items a home inspector checks. But, New Orleans real estate is unique in that it sustained a great deal of water damage. So, you will also want to have someone come in and conduct a mold inspection. Mold can create a multitude of problems and be expensive to get rid of.You need to know what you are getting into if you buy the house. If you have an experienced and licensed home inspector who is familiar with the area and the situation, you should feel pretty good about the inspection results. Once you have all the information, you can decide if the house is going to be more work than you want to take on. Or, you can get a great bargain on a fixer-upper and put some of your blood, sweat and tears into it. New Orleans real estate is on the rebound, but they need everyone who is ready and willing to help revitalize the area and return it to its former glory. Water damage to structure, wiring and plumbing are a few things your home inspector needs to look for when going over your New Orleans home inspection. Before investing in New Orleans real estate, contact an experienced home inspector at www.realestatelouisiana.com.
Related Articles -
lafayette louisiana real estate, new orleans realtor, new orleans realtors,
|