Do thorough inspection

When looking to buy property, it's essential to look beyond the veneer and conduct a thorough inspection for tell tale signs of significant potential problems. Unless you're buying a recent ly built home, it might be wise to make the sales agreement contin gent upon the findings of a home inspection. Roof Check if the shingles are loose, falling off, warping or damaged as the roof will need to be repaired or replaced. If the roof's over 15 years old, it may need to be re placed. Drainage Poor drainage isn't always eas ily detected and can cause serious problems later if ignored. Ensure the property around the house is graded to divert water away from the foundation. Check all gutters and downspouts are in working condition and lead away from the house. Indoors, a sign of poor drain age is pooling water when the shower's running. A bouncy bath room floor can be evidence of hid den damage like a leaking shower drain. Framing structure and foundation A house's foundation is argua bly the most important part of the entire structure, and one of the costliest repairs if needed. Look for bulges, cracks, deflections and other irregularities in the roof, exterior walls, interior framing and the foundation walls which can indicate a serious structural problem. Although minor cracking may only be a sign of settling in the home, large cracks can be a sign of serious problems with the foundation and must be checked thoroughly. Floors should be level; place a marble on the floor and see if it rolls without prompting. If the door frames don't appear square or the doors seem to have difficul ty closing, it's possible the home has structural problems. Hire a structural engineer to evaluate any structural concerns. Electrical Check the size of the service and whether it meets modern standards. This is especially im portant in older homes which might not have as many electrical outlets as a newer home; piling on double adapters and extension cords could be hazardous, espe cially with faulty wiring. Check the panel and wiring, look for burned wires, overloaded circuits, improper connections, panel openings, or wiring in stalled by an uncertified non pro fessional. Plumbing Geysers should be checked for leaks, and the taps run to check the water pressure and tempera ture. Yael Geffen is CEO of Leto Geffen Sotheby's International Realty