•what type of wiring does the house have? •what about power outlets? Different appliances use different types. •what type of heating system does it use? •what about the roof and foundation? •what condition are the windows in? •what about the plumbing?
Having a qualified home inspector look at the house is always a good idea. The older the home, the greater the need for professional inspection. Once you find the house you want to make your home, work with a Broker to develop an offer. In the offer, you should specify how much you're willing to pay. State when the offer expires, and suggest a closing date for the transaction. You can also propose some conditions on the offer.
Some common types of conditions are:
•getting a suitable mortgage (include the amount, interest rates and any other figures you feel important); •selling your current home (the seller may continue to look for a buyer, but will give you the right of first refusal); •the seller providing a current survey, or a "real property report," showing the location of the house on the property owned by the seller and that there are no encroachments; •the seller having title to the property (your lawyer will check this out when he or she conducts a title search to see if there are any liens on the property, easements, rights of way or height restrictions); •if there is a septic system, the seller should have a health inspection certificate, stating the system meets local standards; •if you still have any doubts about the home's safety and construction, you may wish to make the purchase conditional on an inspection by a qualified engineer; •any inclusions - basically, what stays and what goes.