Are you in the process of buying or selling a home? The excitement of a real estate transaction can sometimes make you forget an important step – home inspection. Skipping a home inspection can lead to surprises later on, especially red flags that point to major problems.
While some problems found in a home inspection are minor, others indicate major repairs that need to be fixed immediately. Below, we explain some common home inspection red flags that should not be overlooked.
Problems with sewers can become a homeowner’s nightmare. Whether caused by root seizing the line or a blockage, they often lead to standing water in one’s yard, flooding of one’s basement, or even cracked walkways. Hence, if your inspection hints toward trouble, a sewer line scan is inevitable to avoid expensive repairs.
Older houses, especially ones built between 1880 and 1970, may include obsolete wiring methods like knob-and-tube or aluminum branch circuit wiring. Those old forms of wiring pose a serious potential threat of fires and often also make the house hard to insure. An inspector can identify those risks; however, repairing them would require a costly electrical upgrade.
Cracks need a closer look at where expansion and contraction with temperature changes occur. Almost all corners where walls meet ceilings have minor cracks and are not a cause for concern. Diagonal cracks extending from a window or door framing might indicate foundational movement. If this is the case, then the issue needs a closer examination by an expert.
Not all foundation cracks are the same. Hairline or corner cracks generally aren’t a cause for alarm and are the normal settling. Large cracks, but especially those that are horizontal, could point to a far worse problem. These could indicate that the foundation is unstable and, thus, may require reinforcement, such as through wall tiebacks or carbon fiber strips.
A small growth of mold usually creeps into areas where moist conditions abound, such as around bathtubs, showers, or window sills. These spots can often be readily cleaned up, but spotting them on ceilings or walls outside such areas is something else. This could indicate a much more important problem, a concealed water leak, for instance, which will prove very expensive to rectify.
Sometimes, roof troubles are more obvious than others. Bluish stains on shingles or vegetation sprouting in the roofing area can show water damage, or the roof begins to rot itself. Walls stained from leaks above can also signify that it is time to replace the roof. As roof repairs can be a pretty heavy investment, it’s essential to assess the extent of the damage before finalizing a sale.
An aging deck is not just an unattractive sight but also a potential safety hazard. Eventually, the posts and beams supporting a deck will begin to rot to the point where there is a risk of a total collapse. Diagonal or sagging boards are a sure sign of a rotting deck. If such a condition arises, seek professional advice before someone gets severely injured.
However, pre-1950 homes also tend to have galvanized pipes that rust from the inside out. Once they get older, these corroded pipes will further release dangerous substances like lead into the water system. Fixing these pipes is often hard, so it becomes a better option to replace them altogether to avoid probable future problems.
Proper grading keeps water away from a home’s foundation. Water pooling near the foundation or in high grading, pushing soil too close to the facade, could become trouble as water infiltrates, causing damage through mold and foundation settlement. A home inspection identifies issues related to drainage so you can address them before they do their worst.
You hardly notice the systems that hold your home’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system when you need to have some service work done on it. The condenser coils and filters become dirty and clogged, resulting in reduced efficiency or even more expensive breakdowns. If an HVAC system has reached its end lifetime, it is probably time to budget for a replacement.
One of the most important elements of the real estate process is the home inspection. It can provide peace of mind, especially if it points out major items that need to be addressed before the deal is finalized. Common red flags like sewer problems, faulty electrical systems, foundation cracks, and roof concerns can save you thousands of dollars in repairs later.
Don’t get caught off-guard by hidden problems. Schedule your home inspection with Inspection Boss today to get a clear view of your home’s conditions with our infrared thermal imaging camera that detects even hard-to-find problems.
