3 Home Systems That Should Be Checked Before Purchasing Real Estate in Park City

Purchasing real estate is a big decision and an even bigger investment. Real estate will likely be one of the biggest investments you make in your life time. That is why it is so important to do your due diligence when buying a property in Park City. 

12617 N. Deer Mountain Blvd.

Listed for $725,000

Listing Agent - Mary Ciminelli with Summit Sotheby’s International Realty

Park City is a beautiful place and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. But what makes for great skiing in the winter and gorgeous blue sky summers for hiking, biking, golf and whatever else you love to do, also creates a harsh environment for your real estate investment. Park City’s heavy winters, sunny summers and altitude are the perfect combination for wear and tear on your home. Our weather conditions are one of the many reasons why you need to hire a home inspector to investigate possible issues with three major systems in your potential purchase of Park City real estate. 

Home inspectors are not specialists in any one field. A good home inspector will have a working knowledge of the basics of home systems. But they are not specialists. They often know enough to point out an issue with a system, but then advise getting a second opinion from a licensed contractor for further investigation. Give yourself plenty of due diligence time to get your inspection results and have further investigations, if needed. Often times, fourteen days is not enough time to get a specialist into the property for a second opinion. Contractors in Park City are extremely busy. Be willing to pay them a consulting fee for a professional opinion.

The roof is critical and can be an expensive fix. Inspecting a roof in the winter may not be a possibility due to snow on the roof. If a roof is leaking or faulty there are often clues inside the home that a home inspector should find. A roofing contractor has the ability to further investigate but don’t expect the home inspector to climb onto a snow packed roof. Also, even the best roof systems can leak in a heavy snow year. Don’t over react to a leak from an ice dam. That may be a repair, not a full roof replacement. But certainly, go the extra mile to get a second opinion of the roof. 

Having adequate heat, needless to say, is critical. Furnaces should be in good working order.  Just because a furnace is old or “close to or past its life expectancy” doesn’t mean the furnace is going to fail. If a seller maintained the furnace annually, the furnace can last for several years past its life expectancy. There will be clues in and around the furnace that the home inspector will look for to see if the furnace is in good shape. Ask the seller for maintenance records from previous years. If you aren’t satisfied, call in an HVAC specialist for further investigation. Radiant heat systems are more complicated to inspect and often home inspectors do not understand them. Best to get another opinion before concluding that there is something wrong. Note that furnaces really can’t be inspected in the summer and air conditioners can’t be inspected in the winter. 

The electrical system of a home is critical due to safety concerns. We have many very old homes in Old Town, Park City. Codes have changed over the years. It is best to have an electrician take a look at anything the home inspector deems questionable. The repairs are usually not complicated, but necessary. 

If you need recommendations for home inspectors or contractors, please give me a call. I’d be happy to help you. Thank you for reading this important but unexciting information. Mary Ciminelli, Associate Broker with Summit Sotheby’s International Realty. 801-550-7563 Mary@ParkCityIncomeProperty.com