Buying a home is a serious investment. Whether your potential abode is a humble fixer-upper or a brand new estate, no home is perfect. Getting the lowdown of all the home’s problem areas right off the bat can be the key to avoiding severe issues in the future. We’ve come up with a reverse-order list to help you understand what to look out for and each one’s importance.
5. MAINTENANCE
Lack of overall upkeep can be a problem many homes suffer from. Even small maintenance issues like cracked paint or worn carpeting should be noted to the seller. As insignificant as it may seem at first, these issues can be a sign of lacking proper TLC and can be an indicator of more serious issues.
4. ROOFING
Many homeowners neglect their roofing or forget to call a professional to check it regularly. Making sure that your potential home has a healthy roof is incredibly important, as issues here can cause future leaks, rotting and even an invasion of animals and insects! Ask about the roof’s age and check for any curling, blistering, lifting, splitting or rotting before it’s too late.
3. PLUMBING
When examining the plumbing, a good start would be at the home’s source. Find the house’s water meter and determine the condition of the box, controls, and shut-off valves. It would also be a good idea to check the water heater to make sure it is in great shape and is in an accessible and safe spot. Faulty plumbing can lead to leaks, slow drains, and inadequate water pressure, so don’t miss this step! P.S. It never hurts to have a licensed plumber do an inspection of the home’s plumbing system in addition to the home inspector.
2. WIRING
Electrical problems aren’t just a headache for real estate deals and inspectors; faulty wiring creates a real risk of house fires and electrocution, and that is why we’ve numbered this issue at number two! Watch out for aluminum wiring, exposed or frayed wires, amateur connections and the amount of outlets present. If any of these are found, a licensed professional should be called immediately.
1. GRADING AND DRAINAGE
Thirty-six percent of inspectors noted this as the most common issue found during inspections! Ideally, water should run away from your home. However, with improper drainage, water can accumulate around the house and cause molding, rotting, leaking in the basement (if you have one) and damage to the foundation. Some properties are suffering erosion, and some were improperly graded from the get-go; therefore, it is crucial that you make sure your potential home isn’t doing either.
What are some other issues that might be important during a home inspection? We want to hear from you! Give us your rating, and let us know which ones you’ve found to be most important during your real estate venture!