Fourteen "RED
FLAGS" Every Buyer MUST Investigate Before Buying A Home
1. Does The House A Tilt? Does the home tilt or lean in one specific direction? Maybe it's just one room that literally feels like it is pulling you toward one specific corner. This tilt is probably do to sinking, settlement, or an addition pulling away from the main house. 2. Are Trees Located Close To The House? A tree's roots can extend twice as far as its limbs. That means that if a tree's limbs are hanging over the roof of the home, tree may be too close to the home. The roots could put pressure on the homes foundation. Hanging limbs can cause roof damage and clog gutters. 3. Does The Home Have Freshly Painted Ceilings? Although it is nice to purchase a home that is freshly painted, be leery if the only fresh paint you see is on the ceiling. Fresh paint on the ceiling could be hiding moisture stains from the roof or water leaks. 4. Do The Ceilings Have Stains? Stained ceilings could be caused by roof leaks or problems with the A/C. Look for moisture stains on the ceiling as well as the interior walls. 5. Are the roof shingles curled, faded or missing? Is there moss on the roof? If so the roof could near the end of its life and require replacement soon. Or the roof could have leaks & water damage. 6. Is the Garage Turned Into Living Quarters? It is nice to have extra living space and many garages can turn out to quite attractive. But, do not forget, it used to be a garage. Being a garage, the floor was probably lower than the original house slab. Has the it been raised? What about the vehicle door, was it converted into a wall? Is the bottom of the wall properly sealed, so that water will not seep in after rains. Are the walls insulated. Is there heating and air conditioning in the converted space? 7. Do The Doors Open And Close With Ease? It could be that the door just needs to be adjusted or the bottom needs to be shaved. Or it may be that the door frame is not square, this could be caused by a structural problem. 8. Is Wall Paper Peeling Away From The Walls? If the wall paper is peeling, bubbling or curling away from the wall, this could be a sign of moisture problems. 9. Is the bathroom floor soft? If so there may be rotten flooring, termites or structural damage. 10. Is The Exterior Siding Pulling Away From The home? If exterior siding is pulling away from the home, it may not have been fastened properly. Moisture could also be the culprit, causing wood to rot and decay. 11. Does the ground outside slope into the house? If so, you may have serious drainage problems. 12. Termites When you walk around the exterior of the home, do you see pencil sized diameter, or larger, mud tubes running across bare concrete between the soil and any wooden part of your building? This is a sure sign of a termite infestation. 13. Is Shrubbery Touching The Exterior Walls Of The Home? Shrubbery can be an ally to moisture and wood boring pests. Be aware of any areas where wood comes in contact with the ground. 14. Cracks In The Foundation Do you see crack in the foundation when you walk around the exterior of the house? While hairline crack almost always occur and can be disregarded, large cracks are a sign of concern. Especially if the cracks are larger at the top than at the bottom, and if the top of the break is a quarter inch or more |
