4 Times to Call Us When Buying or Selling a Home

 

Whether you’re buying or selling a home, real estate is stressful. It’s hard enough to come to an agreement on a price, and then there are multiple rounds of inspections to deal with, each of which could easily derail the process.

 

While home inspectors are great, there are some problems that might be beyond the scope of their knowledge. If you or an inspector notice any of the following, call us.

 

Wall Cracks

 

If you see cracks in the foundation walls, or even upstairs around door or window frames, it could be a sign that the foundation is settling and needs to be addressed.

 

Water

 

It goes without saying that you should call us if you find standing water in a basement or crawl space. But even when you don’t see water, look for signs of it. This could mean staining on the floor and walls, or warped ceiling beams. Peeling paint on an unfinished wall is also a sign that water has passed through.

 

Sticking Windows and Doors

 

If you have to put your hip into a door to get it to close properly, or the inspector struggles to open a window, there could be foundation settlement problems.

 

Smells

 

Musty smells are a major indicator of a problem in a basement or crawl space. The times you will most notice them are right at the entrance, and when you first step foot at the bottom of the stairs/crawl space entrance. There are plenty of words to describe the smell - wet/dam/moldy/musty/fishy/decaying - but you’ll just know it when you smell it. Smells like this are a sign of mold and mildew that point to a water issue.

 

If you are considering buying a home and any of these issues pop up, it’s important to call us immediately. We will send a system design specialist out within your inspection window so you can get a full picture of what’s going on in the home and what it might take to fix it. This can be used to help negotiate or even help you decide to walk away from the house.

 

If you are in the process of trying to sell your home, or thinking about it, it’s smart to get an inspection. It’s easier to proactively bring up potential issues along with a plan for fixing them, or even to get everything fixed before listing. 

 

Call us today to schedule your free inspection and take some of the headache out of real estate.