Buying a home for yourself and the family is an exciting event in life. Your hard work has finally manifested itself in a glorious way.
However, it’s wise to first understand how to find a great deal on a home that has as few surprises as possible.
Delve into a little research to get you on your way to living in your forever home. Here is a quick look at a few immediate red flags you should avoid when scouting a home to purchase.
Get an eye for a solid foundation
It’s pretty common for a concrete home foundation to show visible cracks at some point during its lifespan. Some cracks are not worrisome and can be easily fixed by calling professional foundation repair services. However, there are other cracks you shouldn’t consider purchasing.
Virtually all poured concrete foundations will crack at one time or another, but hairline cracks are not an indication of a problem. If a crack is wider than 1/2 inch, however, it’s a good idea to have a foundation contractor examine the area. This also holds true for cracks that appear to have been recently patched. Large cracks can indicate an unstable foundation.
Doors that won’t close properly
If you’re walking through a prospective house and find doors that won’t close properly, then there could be something more troublesome wrong with the house.
The framing of the property could be in the beginning stages of having some real problems. Fixing a shifting house frame is something you don’t want to get into right after you purchase a new place.
Moldy smells or visible mold
Most of the time, the mold you see isn’t of the scary variety. However, breathing in any type of mold spores can be troublesome for your lungs. If you have children, mold is an even more sketchy variable.
The mold itself isn’t the real problem. The real problem is what caused the mold to form in the first place. It’s best to avoid a home that is already showing signs of mold.
Active infestations are a no-no
A house with signs of an active termite invasion could cost you a pretty penny to fix. Depending on how long the termites have been feeding off of the wood that frames your home, you could find yourself in a really bad situation. If you see any signs of termites, go ahead and mark the property off of your list of possibilities.
Water damage and stains
When you do the walkthrough of a prospective property, you should always keep an eye out for any signs of water damage. Stains on the ceiling could signal much bigger problems. However, the issue could have already been addressed, and the stain you see may just be residual cosmetic damage.
Sagging ceilings in the home
It’s a huge red flag to see a saggy ceiling. The roof could be leaking. There could be an issue with the structure of the home. Either way, a saggy roof is a reason to move on to the next potential property.
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