5 Warning Signs When Buying a Home

Buying a home can be an overwhelming process. Inventory is low and demand is high, and after losing your second or third home to a bidding war, you might be ready to ignore red flags and just buy whatever you can get. But this is our request to please not do that.

 

You might think of a home inspection as a time to “kick the tires” so to say - make sure there’s no exposed wiring sparking, check for plumbing leaks, get on the roof and jump around if that’s your thing - but many people overlook potential hazards in the basement or crawl space because many inspectors aren’t trained to look for them.

 

Here are a few things you should never ignore:

 

1 - That Smell

 

If you’ve ever been in a damp basement, you know the smell we mean. Damp, musty, moldy - you may use plenty of different words to describe it, but the smell itself is always the same. It’s often the result of water problems and the resulting effects of mold and mildew growing in the basement.

 

2 - Wall Cracks

 

At best, they’re structurally innocuous but may still be a source of a water leak, but at worst they can threaten the safety of the foundation and the home itself. Wall cracks can be horizontal, vertical, or even in a stair step pattern on block walls, and they all mean something different.

 

3 - Signs of DIY Fixes

 

If you go down in a basement and notice that black rubberized paint on the walls, there is a problem. Products like that aren’t a long term solution, so you should ask how long the problem has been occurring and then follow up with us.

 

4 - Cold Floors

 

Especially in homes on top of a crawl space, very cold floors can be a sign that the crawl space is poorly insulated, which means it’s at the mercy of the elements and could have more than just insulation problems.

 

5 - Wall Cracks, Part 2

 

If you notice cracks around doors and windows upstairs, this is a sign that there could be foundation issues. Also: gaps between the baseboard and floor, doors that are difficult to close, and, of course, a noticeable slant to the floor.

 

If you notice any of these warning signs in a home, call us for a free inspection before you make an offer.