House hunting can be an exciting experience, but with so many choices to make and so many steps in the home-buying process, it can be overwhelming too. However, since investing in a home is one of the biggest investments a person can make, you’ll want to be 100% certain that the home is in great condition before making a bid.
This will mean doing a thorough inspection of the home, not only to get a feel for the life you’ll be living in it but as much as possible, to ensure that no nasty surprises turn up later that will prove costly to repair or replace.
Here we look at why you should consider living in Collegeville, PA, as well as providing a comprehensive list of the home features you should be checking before buying your new home.
Table of Content
Why choose Collegeville, PA?
Collegeville is a charming borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, a suburb just 30 miles northwest of Philadelphia on Perkiomen Creek. The town has attracted many residents looking to live close enough to the city but with more space, peace, and, quiet.
The suburb offers excellent big-city amenities in a charming small-town setting. It has gorgeous homes and is close to several reputable schools with a vibrant Main Street full of shops and restaurants. Homes for sale in Collegeville, PA, are often some of the most desired properties in the area thanks to the beautiful neighborhood, quality of life, abundance of outdoor activities, community events, and proximity to schools and job opportunities.
Homes in Collegeville are usually found on large plots of land and range from Colonial styles to beautifully and carefully restored split levels, ramblers, and townhomes. Whatever your particular circumstance and preference, there’ll be a property in Collegeville that will charm and delight.
13 things to look at during house hunting
Once you decide that Collegeville is the right place for you, it’s time to start your house hunt and if you are interested in living in this delightful borough, here are important checks to cover when looking at homes for sale in Collegeville, PA.
Note that it’s highly unusual for a home to pass every item on this comprehensive checklist. Normal wear and tear will always be a consideration for homebuyers. What is important is to be able to identify which issues are minor and cosmetic and which are major in that they will require time, expense, or both to address. Fully understanding the level of repair or replacement a property requires is a crucial part of knowing if you should bid for a home and how much you should offer.
Exterior
- House Size
Before you begin looking at listings, you should determine what size house you want. Establish a minimum size including how many bedrooms and bathrooms you want.
Your family and preferences will determine how many bedrooms and space you’ll need. Keep in mind future plans such as whether you think your family might grow in the future with the arrival of more children or the possibility of elderly parents moving in.
Things to consider when determining home size:
- Size of your family and amount of bedrooms you need.
- Future plans for family expansion.
- How many bathrooms you need.
- How much common space you need.
- Do you need extra rooms for office or recreational spaces?
- Structural Integrity
When looking at a home’s exterior, be sure to gauge the home’s structural integrity carefully.
Things you should check include:
- Visible foundation is still in good condition, with no significant cracks or warping.
- House is not sagging or bowing to the side.
- Siding is not damaged or cracked.
- Easily accessible crawl spaces for plumbing.
- The Septic tank works with no leaks.
- Gutters show no decay and work properly.
- Drainage is away from the home with no standing water.
- Bricks appear undamaged.
- Paint isn’t flaking or stained.
- The roof is structurally sound, with no missing or damaged tiles.
- The garage door opens and closes smoothly.
- Chimneys are undamaged, straight, and working.
- Outdoor vents are clean and clear.
- All wood on the structure is strong, with no sign of termite damage.
- Outdoor Finishings
Once you’ve ensured the home’s overall structure is in excellent condition, it’s time to look a little closer at the finishings. Here’s where you inspect the doors and windows.
Things you should check include:
- Exterior doors and windows retain shape and aren’t sagging.
- Door, window frames, and trim are in good condition with no cracks.
- If the trim is wood, there is no sign of rot.
- Joints around the frames are caulked in and sealed well.
- No damaged door knobs and door integrity is good.
- No damaged screens or broken glass.
- Grounds
After the foundation and trimmings, it’s time to look outward at the surrounding front and backyard. Curb appeal is an important consideration, and landscaping can make or break the look of a home.
Consider what you want your yard to look like and what function it will serve. Do you want a big lawn or prefer more low-maintenance landscaping? One closer to the road or further back for more privacy? Also, consider the features you want in your front and backyard. Do you want a flower garden, ponds, pools, swing sets, decks, etc.? For some homeowners, these are highly desirable features, while others prefer smaller, more practical grounds.
While looking at the yard, check:
- Yard and landscaping are in good condition.
- No trees or branches hanging over or touching the roof.
- Outdoor structures like patio, fences, sheds, decks, etc., are in good condition.
- All railings are sound, with no evidence of rust or decay.
- Walkways are in good condition and accessible.
- Electrical sockets are available and working.
Interior
Once you have taken a good look at the house from the outside, it’s time to move indoors and carefully look through all the home’s interiors.
- Bedrooms
The number of bedrooms is often the first consideration when choosing a home. The number of rooms, their size, and how you plan to use them will heavily influence your decision.
Here are some things you should consider while looking through all the rooms:
- Room size, space, and layout are adequate.
- Floors, walls, and ceilings are straight and level and in good condition.
- Flooring and paint are not stained and are in good condition.
- Doors open and close well with functioning locks and keys.
- Door frames are sturdy and in good condition.
- Walls have adequate insulation.
- Heating and cooling systems are working.
- Any trimming looks good and is not cracked or falling.
- Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are present and functional.
- Adequate amount of working electrical sockets.
- Function cabinets or good condition built-in furniture.
- Kitchen
After the bedrooms, the kitchen is often the next most important space for homebuyers. A carefully planned, functional, and aesthetically pleasing kitchen can be a dealbreaker in any home sale.
Here is what you should be looking at when going through a home’s kitchen:
- Exhaust fans work well, and vents outside.
- Plumbing under the sink works well with no leaks.
- Cabinets under the sink are free from mold and decay.
- Dishwasher drains well with no leaks.
- Garbage disposal is operational with no signs of damage or rust.
- Water flow to the sink is adequate.
- All built-in appliances are in good working condition.
- Bathrooms
When you’ve completed your kitchen inspection, move on to the bathrooms. Bathroom renovations can be costly, so be sure the bathrooms have the kind of toilet and shower amenities that suit your needs.
When looking in the bathroom, carefully look at:
- Toilets are operational, stable, and show no signs of shaking or staining at the base.
- Caulking/sealing on the shower and tubs are in good condition.
- Tiles are in good shape, secure, and show no signs of damage.
- Adequate water pressure and both hot and cold water.
- Drainage for shower, tub, and sink is quick and efficient.
- Plumbing under the sink is easily accessible and in good condition.
- Check for any signs of mold.
- Attic
Next, it’s time to explore the house’s top room or attic. Though not all homes have an attic, having one opens excellent options for your home. An attic need not just be a place where items are stored and forgotten, they can be converted into another bedroom, an office, or almost any other type of room you want.
When checking your attic, look for:
- Signs of damage or decay.
- Leaks or stains from the roof.
- Adequate ventilation throughout the room.
- Proper and adequate insulation.
- Basement
As with attics, not all homes come with a basement. Home buyers looking for homes for sale in Collegeville, PA can convert basements into laundry rooms, games rooms, offices, or gyms. For those who take an interest in wine, a basement is a perfect place for a wine cellar.
When checking your attic, look for:
- Evidence of sitting water or moisture.
- Significant cracks or damage to the foundation.
- Water damage to the floor or walls.
- Decay or damage to any structural wood.
- Sump pump is in good working condition.
- Miscellaneous
Don’t solely look at the rooms inside your prospective home. Be sure to check all the miscellaneous interiors, like stairs, hallways, and entrances.
Be sure to check the following:
- All stairs and railings are sturdy and secure.
- Entryways are clear and well-lit.
- There are adequate and easily accessible entrances and exits.
- Carpets and flooring are well-installed and in good condition.
Home Systems
Once you’ve checked your exterior and interiors, it’s time to inspect the home systems that keep your house warm, cool, and functional. These often require the most repairs, and repairs can get costly, so be sure to look at these closely before buying.
- Heating and Cooling Systems
Heating is especially important to look at when exploring homes for sale in Collegeville, PA, where winters can be quite cold. While you may not be an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) expert, there are still things you can look out for, including:
- HVAC systems are in good working condition throughout the house.
- No smell of gas from the vents.
- Ventilation is good, and the air filters are clean.
- If the home uses a furnace, radiator, or boiler, make sure these are in good working condition.
- Flues aren’t open-seamed and go up through the chimney
- Ductwork is still in good condition.
- No signs of mold on pipes or in the air ducts.
- Electrical
A well-functioning electrical system is a must for any home. Be sure to check the home’s number of power outlets available throughout the interior and exterior of the house, especially in areas where you know you will need to plug in a number of appliances.
Things to look out for include:
- All outlets are grounded and functional.
- There is an adequate supply of outlets.
- The wiring throughout the home is in good condition.
- Insulation is sufficient.
- Electrical panel is accessible and functioning.
- No exposed wires or electrical splices.
- Plumbing
And finally, no good home can be without adequate and reliable plumbing. Plumbing is one of the home systems most often needing repair, so it’s a good idea to make sure the home’s plumbing is in excellent working condition before making any bid.
Some things you should look for include:
- Pipes are working with no damage or leaks.
- Water heater is working with no signs of rust.
- Water pressure is adequate and steady.
- Confirm if and when the last plumbing service was done.
Helpful tips
Looking carefully at all the homes you are interested in is an integral part of the home-buying process. But while we do recommend you inspect the property yourself, it’s still not an advisable substitute for a thorough home inspection performed by a professional. Not only are they vastly more capable of identifying issues that you may miss, but they will also create a report that you can use to fine-tune a bid or leverage during any negotiations.
Here’s what to do during and after you inspect a home.
- Document Everything
Once you begin looking closely at the property following our checklist above, be sure you thoroughly document the process, preferably with video and photo documentation.
Thorough documentation assures that you don’t forget any details and is essential later on when you want to discuss specific concerns with your professional home inspector or the home seller. Keeping thorough records makes sure all your bases are covered.
- Negotiate a Home Inspection Contingency
If a home inspection uncovers a serious issue with the property, a home inspection contingency clause can be inserted into a sale contract. This contingency clause can stipulate that the sale of the home will only push through once certain conditions have been met. In terms of repairs, they often require the seller to address a situation before a sale is finalized.
- Schedule a Professional Home Inspection
Finally, after you’ve done your inspection, schedule a home inspection with a professionally certified home inspector. If you don’t know any, it’s best to ask your real estate agent for referrals so you can be sure it’s someone who has been vetted.
When scheduling your inspection, be sure to ask what is included, how long it takes, and the format of your home inspection report. It’s also an excellent time to ask if they think any other inspection specialists are needed, like pest or termite inspectors.
Once your inspection is completed and your professional inspector has compiled their report you’ll be ready to purchase your home confidently.
EXPLORE COLLEGEVILLE, PA
Now that you have an idea of what to keep an eye out for during your inspection, you’re more than ready to begin the search for your new home.
There are many incredible homes for sale in Collegeville, PA. If you want a seamless search and home-buying process, consider exploring the Collegeville real market today with our team of seasoned local agents at the DeZarate Real Estate Sales Group.
With top Realtor Marie DeZarate at the helm, our passion for our work, and years of experience in Collegeville and the surrounding area, you have access to the best available home options and a hassle-free real estate transaction.
Reach out to the team for a real estate consultation by calling 484.881.2397 or sending an email.