With the help of your home inspector and your own observation skills, check out these red flags to look for when buying a home.
Buying a home is an action-filled task. The process will pull at your heartstrings, challenge your patience, and impact your personal finances. Home inspections are an effective tool in locating issues with the property. It is a check of the house’s structural and mechanical condition, from the roof down to the foundation. It may also test for the presence of radon gas and wood-destroying insects. If the inspection uncovers significant issues, the buyer may be able to walk away from the deal.
Be aware of these signs that could signal trouble with the house.
Electrical Issues
An old electrical system can be a major fire hazard and expensive to update, and you want to ensure that the wiring is up to current code to protect your home and family. Be on the lookout for threats like outlets that don’t have the modern ground fault interrupter (GFI), aluminum wiring, overloaded plugs, and wiring that looks like it’s amateur work.
Faulty Foundation
A cracked or crumbling foundation calls for attention and repair, with costs ranging from moderate to extremely expensive. If you shop for older homes, there may be a possibility that the entire foundation needs to be replaced.
Mold
This is an issue that most people think is caused by an old, damp house, however, it can sprout because the home is too energy-efficient. The airtight envelope of many newer homes restricts air movement, forcing mold to grow. Even though most molds are allergens rather than toxins, you should still have a specialist examine the problem and provide remediation if needed.
Worn-Out Roofing
The whole point of a home is to keep a roof over your head. If the roof is faulty, you could be in store for some major issues and repair bills. Depending on the size and materials, a new roof could cost you well into the thousands.
Poor Drainage
Drainage issues can lead to wood rot, wet basements, wet crawlspaces, and major mold growth. While problems are usually corrected by replacing gutters and repairing roof slates, it’s important to note if this is a major issue.
The bottom line is that you should always have your home inspected professionally before you make an offer. When selling a home, it’s important to address these issues now before it hinders a home sale!
Contact Dean Rathbun when it comes time to finding the perfect plan of action to buy your home. We are happy to help you.
