Red Flags Revealed During a Home Inspection

Home inspections are one of the more important aspects of the home buying process, and a thorough inspection may occasionally reveal problems that are severe enough to seriously concern a future owner.

We wanted to run down a few potential inspection findings that should raise serious red flags. The following are a list of possible issues:

  • Structural damage (usually determined by noting cracks in plaster, visibly shifted floors, doors, or windows; visibly shifted brick on the exterior, etc.) may require underpinning to the tune of $25,000-250,000
  • Water intrusion and grading problems (usually noted with visible water stains, visible presence or odor of mold or mildew, measurable dampness on walls or floors, evidence of rot, insect damage, etc.) can be especially worrisome because water is very hard to control and a sump pump or other remedy is never guaranteed to resolve the issue
  • Insect infestation or damage (noted by visible trails in joists or floors, weak wooden members or even visible insects) is problematic because preventative treatment may not remedy significant structural damage that may be hidden behind walls or under floors
  • Roof issues (noted by visible water or stains present, visibly old and decaying shingles, visibly rotted rafters, etc.) can result in high replacement costs
  • Windows (visibly old and/or non-functional, not double-paned or double-paned but with condensation visible trapped in panes, etc.) can be very expensive to replace (think at least $500 per window, in some cases up to $5000)
  • HVAC issues can also mean thousands of dollars in repairs.

Additionally, here are a few other things to think about when it’s time for the inspection.

  • Check any additions carefully for shoddy workmanship.
  • Faulty electrical wiring is a common cause of house fires, and an undersized electrical system can get stressed with normal usage. Check electrical wiring to the extent possible.
  • Rodent and insect infestations are usually, apart from being disgusting, a sign of significant deterioration, and can be pricey and frustrating to get rid of.

As a final tip, it is worth taking the time to find an experienced, trusted inspector who can spot every detail. 

 

By Shilpi Paul

This article originally published by UrbanTurf at http://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/first-timer_primer_what_are_serious_red_flags_during_a_home_inspection/7103.