Buying A Money Pit!
Signs That Could Mean
Big Trouble When Buying A Home In The Katy-Richmond-Sugar Land Area
Buying A Money Pit!
Signs That Could Mean
Big Trouble When Buying A Home In The Katy-Richmond-Sugar Land Area
Signs That Could Mean
Big Trouble When Buying A Home In The Katy-Richmond-Sugar Land Area
Most people think a house that has expensive defects will be very obvious to detect, but often the most expensive defects are hidden and take a little more investigating. Often people fall in love with a house over the floor plan, the kitchen, the patio/back yard. Here are signs to look for when inspecting a house...
Roof
Roof problems usually take the form of leaks. These can be difficult to spot from the outside. In fact, the surface of a roof may look perfectly sealed. However, if you view the roof from the attic, you may quickly spot water marks where it is leaking. If a roof is older a roofing company will inspect the roof for free. Some lenders are not making loans on homes with old roofs. Find out the age of the roof.
Plumbing System
A home has two water systems. The first brings fresh water in; the second takes sewage out. Both are vital to your enjoyment of the home, and if either breaks down, repairs can be costly. That's why it's very important that you have a good sense of the condition of the homes water systems before you buy. If your inspector detects a problem, get a plumber out to see if it is serious.
Electrical SystemsIn a modern home, having a working electrical system is absolutely essential. You want to have enough power to operate all your appliances plus any tools you have plus your lights, all at the same time. Also you want to be assured that you aren't going to get a shock -- or worse -- from your wall plugs or light fixtures. Your inspector should check this for you.
Heating and Cooling SystemsLike the plumbing and electrical systems, the heater and air conditioner are vital to any home -- and they can be expensive to fix if they break down. A thorough home inspection will include an examination of these for problems. The home inspector only checks for temperature, he is not certified to do a detailed analysis of the air conditioning system. If a system is not cooling enough get an air conditioner company to determine what is wrong.
Bad Paint and Wood Rot
The face a home presents to the world is composed of its exterior material and the paint that goes on top of it. Inside, the walls are usually made of drywall. By carefully examining the paint coat you can often determine not only whether the home needs cosmetic work but also whether there's an underlying problem. When inspecting it's important to take the time to look at both the outside and the inside paint. Check several places on several walls. You can learn a lot with just your eyes and a screwdriver for poking. Your inspector will help with this also.
Cracks and other scary indicators
The foundation holds up a home. A bad foundation means cracks will appear in walls and brickwork, doors won't close properly and floors will be uneven. Some settling occurs with most homes resulting in some sheetrock cracks. Some foundations bend before they break. Nevertheless, a bad foundation is a serious problem for any property and must be assessed carefully. Look carefully for foundation cracks. Have the level of the foundation checked. Foundations are expensive to repair. It might easily be the reason that a buyer could demand and a seller could agree to a lower price, if not do the corrective work. The summer of 2011 was particularly bad for foundations and the framework of homes. Most homes in this area do not have piers under the foundation. If foundation work has been done see if there is a warranty from a the foundation company.
Roof
Roof problems usually take the form of leaks. These can be difficult to spot from the outside. In fact, the surface of a roof may look perfectly sealed. However, if you view the roof from the attic, you may quickly spot water marks where it is leaking. If a roof is older a roofing company will inspect the roof for free. Some lenders are not making loans on homes with old roofs. Find out the age of the roof.
Plumbing System
A home has two water systems. The first brings fresh water in; the second takes sewage out. Both are vital to your enjoyment of the home, and if either breaks down, repairs can be costly. That's why it's very important that you have a good sense of the condition of the homes water systems before you buy. If your inspector detects a problem, get a plumber out to see if it is serious.
Electrical SystemsIn a modern home, having a working electrical system is absolutely essential. You want to have enough power to operate all your appliances plus any tools you have plus your lights, all at the same time. Also you want to be assured that you aren't going to get a shock -- or worse -- from your wall plugs or light fixtures. Your inspector should check this for you.
Heating and Cooling SystemsLike the plumbing and electrical systems, the heater and air conditioner are vital to any home -- and they can be expensive to fix if they break down. A thorough home inspection will include an examination of these for problems. The home inspector only checks for temperature, he is not certified to do a detailed analysis of the air conditioning system. If a system is not cooling enough get an air conditioner company to determine what is wrong.
Bad Paint and Wood Rot
The face a home presents to the world is composed of its exterior material and the paint that goes on top of it. Inside, the walls are usually made of drywall. By carefully examining the paint coat you can often determine not only whether the home needs cosmetic work but also whether there's an underlying problem. When inspecting it's important to take the time to look at both the outside and the inside paint. Check several places on several walls. You can learn a lot with just your eyes and a screwdriver for poking. Your inspector will help with this also.
Cracks and other scary indicators
The foundation holds up a home. A bad foundation means cracks will appear in walls and brickwork, doors won't close properly and floors will be uneven. Some settling occurs with most homes resulting in some sheetrock cracks. Some foundations bend before they break. Nevertheless, a bad foundation is a serious problem for any property and must be assessed carefully. Look carefully for foundation cracks. Have the level of the foundation checked. Foundations are expensive to repair. It might easily be the reason that a buyer could demand and a seller could agree to a lower price, if not do the corrective work. The summer of 2011 was particularly bad for foundations and the framework of homes. Most homes in this area do not have piers under the foundation. If foundation work has been done see if there is a warranty from a the foundation company.
The information contained in this report is the opinion of Fred Miller and does express any policy or opinion of Re/Max International, Rd/Max of Texas or Remax Grand.
Fred Miller, Re/Max Grand, FredMiller9@gmail.com , www.RichmondKatyHomes.com
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