Central Cooling Systems

• Age and condition of central air units, if present. Visually inspect exterior units to see if they are clean and free of debris. Inside the house, inspect duct work where it is visible. If the ducts are made of old, galvanized steel, remove a grate from one of the output registers in the house (the registers that blow cooled air into interior rooms). Reach in with a rag, wipe the inside of a duct, and inspect the rag. Some dust is to be expected, but a dark mildew stain indicates the need for a building-wide duct cleaning to remove mold spores.

 

Kitchen

• Age and condition of appliances, vents and other devices. If they are appliances that you might keep for your use or that of tenants, turn them on and be sure they are working. If there is a gas stove, check the operation of all burners. Tip: Don’t forget to check the operation of garbage disposals. They have a short life expectancy and many property investors forget to check them. If you need to install a dozen disposals in an apartment building, you should know about that expense ahead of time.

• Age and condition of sinks, faucets and other plumbing. Check the condition of sinks and other fixtures. Check all pipes, both supply pipes and drains, for signs of leakage. Also: Check water pressure and the time it takes for hot water to arrive.

• Condition of cabinets and counters. These can be expensive to replace, especially in apartment buildings with multiple units.

 

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