Collaborative Post
House-hunting is a long, time-consuming process. When you’ve found a house that you like, before you make an offer, it’s a good idea to do some research first.
Most people don’t want to buy a house that is going to need a lot of work or that will be hard to finance due to structural issues. The house might look great, but you should order some inspections to make sure it measures up. It can be stressful to find out that you will have to make expensive renovations or have to look for alternative financing after you’ve found what could be your dream home.
There a few common red flags that can come up in an inspection that can put you off even your dream home. Watch out for these things in your inspection, and make a careful choice.
Structural Problems
If there is an issue with the foundation or with any load-bearing walls in the home you’re considering, structural repairs involving health and safety problems could easily derail your mortgage by making the property ineligible for financing. This could also end up costing you thousands of dollars. Structural problems aren’t just expensive; they can also be unsafe. This is why this should be at the top of your list to check when you’re buying a home. If you do find structural problems, consult with your conveyancing solicitor and decide whether to ask for money off the asking price or to ask the vendor to fix any minor problems. Ask your conveyancing solicitor to include the work needed in your contract and request that the vendor provides evidence that the work will be done.
Look out for large cracks in the foundation, problems with doors closing, door frames that aren’t rectangular, or walls or floors sagging. Don’t worry about windows, as cracks and scratches can be repaired with Glass Scratch Remover. If you do notice signs of structural damage, then a structural engineer should be able to give some more insight into the scale of the problem.
Stains On Walls And Ceilings
Moisture is one of the main causes of rot and mold. If the property you’re looking at has leaking pipes or a roof that lets in water, this will be very expensive to put right. By the time you’ve found the problem, the leak could have already caused other issues.
Water stains and mold are red flags to look out for. Mold can have serious implications for your health, and it can be a sign of a bigger issue in the house. If you notice stains, try to find the cause. If you need a new roof or plumbing repairs, this will be very expensive. Dry rot and related problems like mold can also be a health and safety issue, making the home harder to get a mortgage for.
Poor Drainage
Poor drainage can potentially cause some big problems with the foundation or the basement of the property you want to buy. This should be high on your list of inspection red flags. When you’re viewing the home, look for things like water pooling around the foundation, leaking in the basement, blocked or overflowing gutters, or soil being moved by water in the flower beds around the house.
There are ways to fix drainage issues if the problem is small, might if the home has bigger problems or is in a low-lying area, you might have more issues.
Bad Plumbing
The last thing that anyone needs is the sink suddenly starting to leak. Problems with the plumbing could have a few different causes, such as badly installed plumping, old pipes that need to be replaced, or leaching metals into the water supply.
Leaking plumbing can cause water damage, which can have serious consequences, like mold and rot. The home inspection should test the plumbing, but while you’re looking around, keep an eye out for problems yourself. Run all the faucets and flush the toilets. Look out for signs of water damage and any unexplained smells.
Pests
Have your home inspector look for signs of pests. If there are signs, it can help to get a second inspection from a licensed pest inspector to find out what’s going on.
If the inspection reveals signs of bugs, you might be able to request that the seller sorts out the problem before you close the sale. Pest infestation could mean that you can get a significant discount on the price, which might be appealing to you. Getting rid of some pests can be expensive, complicated, need the use of toxic chemicals, or require you to leave the house so fumigation can take place. This means the discount might not be as attractive after all. In some cases, a lender won’t close on a home that has a lot of pest issues, as the issue can fall under the health and safety issue category.
