# House shopping advice

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-shopping-advice/614037>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [February 26, 2012, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-shopping-advice/614037 "2012-02-26T04:59:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\
**Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-shopping-advice/614037/21 "2012-02-29T18:24:26Z")

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> [@Nava](#):
>
> \<snip\>  
> Whenever I’ve looked at a house and the electricity was on, I’ve checked the plugs. Nowadays the easiest way is to bring your cellphone’s charger. If you see plugs with only two holes… how long has it been since those stopped being used in the US? Plugs which don’t work or ancient ones are indicators that the electrical setup needs to be refurbished. That’s not necessarily a “hell, no” (I just refurbished the wiring in my house last year), but it’s something to be taken into account. If they tell you the house has been renovated but you can clearly see that essential items like that haven’t been touched, they’ll be lying about other things too.\<snip\>

That’s a good point - as far as I know it’s been a long time since you could re-do the wiring in a house and leave ungrounded sockets.

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**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\
**Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-shopping-advice/614037/22 "2012-02-29T23:58:50Z")

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When it comes time to inspect a house, _hire your own independent inspector_. Do not rely on one referred to you by a RE agent–they do not have your interest at heart (i.e., they may gloss over or not mention flaws because they are buddies with the agent and want the sale to go smoothly so they can get future referrals).

I recommend calling 3-4 inspectors out of the phone book (or internet, whatever) and talking to them for a few minutes over the phone. Ask about their experience, etc., to see if they sound qualified.

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**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\
**Post date:** [March 1, 2012, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/house-shopping-advice/614037/23 "2012-03-01T00:42:47Z")

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> [@Becky2844](#):
>
> Could your agent have been what’s called a **buyer’s agent**? It’s been many years since we bought, but they were becoming the “new” thing in our area and what you’re describing sounds right.

I don’t know. He didn’t refer to himself as such, and there wasn’t mention of that wording on his website. We didn’t look at anything he had listed as a selling agent, though. There was a lot of dealing with the listing agency and often the bank’s agent with foreclosures. Mostly him just getting keybox codes from the other agent in order to enter empty properties.

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