6 Areas to Examine Before Buying a House
Buying a house is a huge investment. No investor or potential homeowner wants to get stuck with a house on a failing foundation or find out that the roof needs replaced. That is why inspections are so important.
An inspector will list any and all of these problems and the buyer can make the decision to buy or negotiate the fix with the current homeowner.
Foundation
A house has to be on a sturdy foundation. Foundation problems can be difficult and costly to fix. If there are any cracks in the walls, doors that do not shut properly, or floors that have become slanted there could be a foundation problem.
These issues pop up as the foundation shifts and potentially collapses.
Roof
Most buyers approach a house and the first part they will look at is the roof. A good walk around to view all sides of the roof is needed. If the roof cannot be seen well from the ground and inspection is even more important.
Be sure to ask when the roof was last replaced and what type of roof it is. Check if the seller had any leaks after the roof was replaced.
Insulation
A well-insulated house is going to cost less to heat and cool. Check if there is insulation in the attic and around the pipes.
Any pipes that are not insulated have the risk of freezing during the cold months. A frozen pipe can burst and cost a homeowner a lot of money in repairs.
Paint
When looking at a new house the paint is not going to cause a problem. The worst problem with paint in a new home is the color choices of the old homeowner.
In an older home, one built before 1978, a buyer should be aware the house may have lead paint. Most real estate agents are trained to notice this but an inspector will be able to confirm any suspicions.
Paint is also used to cover problem areas. If there is fresh paint on the walls near any water damaged floor it may be covering an area that has been molded. While it is great to see fresh paint, it is important to notice why the owner has made the choice to paint that specific area.
Electric
Older homes sometimes have problems with wiring. It is either not up to date or there have been repairs that were not done by a professional. Always inspect the outlets and wiring to avoid any fires down the road.
A problem with the electric can be costly in the sense of money and safety.
Plumbing
Another item on the list that can cost a homeowner a lot of money is updating the plumbing. As a house ages, the plumbing may need to be updated. If the previous homeowner did not stay on top of any plumbing problems they may have found themselves with leaks and broken pipes. This can cause mold problems and floors or ceilings to be damaged.
Typically water damage is easy to spot unless the homeowner has already replaced the floor. If the majority of the pipes are in a crawl space be sure to look at that area. This is going to be harder to see compared to when pipes are located in an unfinished basement. Many homeowners do not frequent their crawl space so there may be water damage that they are unaware of.
To make an educated decision in buying a house it is important to look at the big picture. A house may appear to be beautiful because of a renovated kitchen or bathroom but it can have underlying problems that will cost a lot of money later.
These six areas are the ones that will cost a homeowner a lot in repairs and can cause a lot of damage to a house. It is important to hire a professional to do a walk-through and find any structural issues.