When buying, how important is the condition of a Michigan home?

When buying, how important is the condition of a Michigan home?

If you are thinking of buying a new home in Michigan, the condition of the home is vastly important for numerous reasons. Of course, you want the home to be in good condition just so that you can be comfortable living there without having to do much work, but it really goes much deeper than that. Do not overlook this and jump into a purchase too quickly.

For one thing, you must look at the roof. The life expectancy of a roof can be all over the place, with some as short as 15 years and others as long as 50 years. If the roof is brand new and expected to last for 30 more years, you don’t have to worry, but, if it is nearing the end of its life, that’s a big job that must have an impact on your offer.

Similarly, you need to go down into the basement and look at the foundation. Don’t just walk around to see if it is finished or not, but really examine the foundation itself, whether it is a slab of poured concrete or a raised foundation. Things like cracks can be massively expensive to fix and may indicated that the rest of the home is not in good condition. Also, cracks can lead to other issues like flooding.

After you close on the home, you should know what rights you have regarding the home’s quality; for example, can you start a lawsuit if you find damage after you have agreed to purchase the house? Many factors can play into this, such as whether or not the seller tried to hide the damage from you, so looking into your rights before any purchases and sales is the best way to go.

Source: FindLaw, “Questions to Ask When Buying a Home” Sep. 17, 2014

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