Century 21 Royal Victoria Realty Ltd. Tips For Buying We recommend having a Home Inspection done by a qualified Building Inspector before you buy. Following are some things to look for. Interior Problems Basement * Large vertical cracks * Severely sloping floor; dampness or flooding * Efflorescence - a crusty, whitish salt deposit Beams & Joists * Decaying wood near the concrete * Large cracks or splits Attic * Uninsulated knee walls or rafters; loose flashing * Insulation blocks vents and exhaust fans Floors * Worn flooring in high-traffic areas * Sloping floors or excessive springiness Walls & Ceilings * Large or numerous cracks and water stains * Lack of adequate insulation Inside Windows * Difficult to open and close * Damaged frames, cranks, runners and locks Fireplace * Crumbling bricks or stonework * Chimney height less than two feet above roof Bathrooms * Leaky faucets or drains;clogged drains * Low water pressure Kitchen * Limited counter and cabinet space * Poor plumbing under sink; not enough drains Electrical System * Less than 100 amps (fewer than 200 amps if electric heat) * Inadequate wiring Plumbing System * Pipes in bad condition; only one shut-off valve * Clean-out plus are inconveniently located Heating System * Gas - clogged burners * Oil - soot near registers, bad fittings & tank * Hot water - noisy boiler or damaged controls * Electric - malfunctioning blower Exterior Problems Landscaping * Large trees are closer than 30 feet to the house * Foilage is unhealthy or not trimmed Outdoors Lighting & Electrical Service * No ground fault current interrupters * Insufficient lighting & weatherproofing Driveways, Sideways & Patios * Water pools instead of draining away * Cracking, crumbling tilting (shows settling) Carport or Garage * Siding & roof in poor condition * Doors don't open & close smoothly; no locks Siding * Obvious splits, loose nails, nail pops, mildew * Metal siding has dents or discolouration Masonry Walls & Joints * Missing mortar, cracks in joints, stains * Efflorescence - a crusty, whitish salt deposit Stucco & Lath Backing * Lath has pulled away from the building Foundation Walls * Cracks more 1/4 inch wide * Presence of Insects * Sawdust (may mean carpenter ants or bees) * White powder (may mean powder-post beetles) Windows * No weather stripping or storm windows * Bent frames and unpainted sills & trims Outside Doors * Warped frames or raised sills * Non-weatherproofed, hollow core doors Gutters & Down Spouts * Obvious peeling paint, rusting or sagging * Leaking joints; down spouts point toward home Roof * Sagging or leaning roof line * Worn, loose, discoloured or missing shingles * Heavy Moss Chimney * Leans, with loose flashing & damaged brick Additional Resources A wealth of home buying information and resources are also available on-line at the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) site http://www.cmhc.ca/hf-fl/en/buying_home/1b.html Phone: (250) 592-2407 Toll Free: 1 (800) 592-5122 Fax: (250) 592-6772 2239 Oak Bay Avenue, Victoria, British Columbia, V8R 1G4 All contents © Copyright Royal Victoria Realty Ltd. All rights reserved. Each firm independently owned and operated. ®Registered Trademarks of Century 21 Real Estate Corporation Used Under License. ®Trademarks of Air Miles International Trading B.V. used under license by Loyalty Management Group Canada Inc. and Century 21 Real Estate Canada Ltd.