Experienced home buyers know what warning signs to look for when shopping for a home since they’ve dealt with shifting foundations, flooded basements, and insect infestations. First-time buyers, though, lack this experience. Here are four household maintenance issues first time buyers should look out for.
We’ll also explain why these issues should warrant such concern.
Contents
Foundation problems
Signs of foundation problems range from cracked paint throughout the house to doors and windows sticking to gaps in the brickwork. It can also take the form of uneven floors, cracked tiles throughout a home or even bulging walls. Foundation problems are a major red flag because they can cost so much to repair.
If they aren’t addressed, those cracks in the walls spread to the roof, causing leaks that ruin the structure of the home. Microscopic cracks in a foundation showing up as pieces of the basement wall chipping away to become major cracks insects and water flow through. Filled in patches of plaster in one specific area may be a sign someone is trying to cover up foundation problems.
Structural problems
Structural problems are different than a home that is “ugly in its bones”. A house with all rooms leading away from the living room is just badly designed. However, structurally speaking, it may be sound and stand for years. These structural problems are dangerous because they are very expensive to fix and the home could suffer major failures like roof or wall collapses if they aren’t fixed. Deformed walls are a major sign of structural problems, whether a shifting foundation or water damage causing structural supports to warp. A warped roof and gaps between tiles are major red flags.
Pests, visible and invisible
Pests are a serious issue if it is anything more than a spider in the corner. If the house has dust flaking off on exposed structural timbers, you may have a termite infestation eating at the structural supports of the home. This is dangerous because it will eventually destroy the home if not controlled.
A stream of ants in the house show that the homeowner isn’t actively seeking to maintain the property and it indicates that there is at least one major gap in the foundation. If you are seeing ants or other insects when the home is supposed to be ready to show, you know that the issue is literally a thousand times worse in areas you cannot see.
Water damage
Water damage may be obvious – and it may be hidden. An obvious sign of water damage is walls that are discoloured and/or deformed. Note that this could be a ceiling, too, especially if beneath a second-floor bathroom or pipes. Watermarks on the skirting boards are a potential sign of water damage.
A bad mildew or mould smell throughout the home is a sign that the house has flooded and not been properly cleaned, or the water damage is an ongoing issue like a pipe leak. If you see rotted wood anywhere, beware. New paint on a single wall may be an attempt to cover up signs of water damage. If all of the appliances in one area have been replaced but it isn’t an obvious attempt to upgrade kitchen appliances to command a premium for the home, this may be evidence the room flooded, destroying the prior appliances. If you want the appliances in the home evaluated or repaired, you can contact a team like Service Force. They can also handle water leaks caused by broken appliances.
Conclusion
All these maintenance issues should send clear red flags if you want to buy a property. Make sure that you inspect the house thoroughly before you make a decision and keep these few points at the top of your mind to make sure you have everything covered.
Featured Article
Photo Credit: Terrah Holly Julián Gentilezza
No Comments