Home Buyer's Checklist: Everything You Need to Know--but Forget to Ask--Before You Buy a Home

by Robert Irwin

Everyone who has bought a home knows that an official inspection is no guarantee against unpleasant surprises, and that, ultimately, the burden to ask the important questions about the physical aspects of a home is on the home buyer. But buying a home is one of life’s most stressful, emotionally fraught activities, and it’s easy to see why many home buyers fail to anticipate the kinds of exasperating and expensive problems that can crop up after closing. Written by bestselling real estate author (more than 1 million books sold) Robert Irwin, Home Buyer's Checklist levels the playing field by equipping home buyers with a comprehensive list of questions pertaining to all the physical aspects of a house that may not be covered in an official inspection. From basement to attic, pantry to lawn, Bob walks readers through every room, nook, cranny, closet and keep, asking important questions about windows, screens, doors and door frames, fireplaces, light fixtures, moldings, and much, much more. And, drawing upon his many years of experience in the business, he provides pointers on how to deal with each problem, including information on how much it will cost to fix, how to estimate its short- and long-term consequences, how it should impact on the negotiating process, and more.

Genres: Nonfiction

196 pages, Paperback

First published August 15, 2001

About the author

Robert Irwin’s career in the real estate industry encompasses more than three decades of experience as real estate broker, landlord, and consultant to lenders, agents, and investors. He is the bestselling author of more than 50 books on real estate, including The Armchair Real Estate Investor, Fix It, Stage It, Sell It - Quick!, Buy Your First Home, The For Sale By Owner Kit, McGraw-Hill’s Tips & Traps series, and the latest edition of Buy, Rent, and Sell. A long-time voice of authority, Robert Irwin addresses landlording, investing, and homebuying issues with crystal clarity.

Reviews

[Mimi]

Truly is a checklist: rip the book into sections and hand a section to each family member when you go for that second visit to a home you want to buy. It would take hours to check every box by yourself.