Home sellers are legally obligated to disclose any “issues'” the home they’re selling may have. Often, though, it doesn’t quite work out that way. That’s why you need to be sure to have your home inspector take a look at these items before buying a home in Garner.
The purpose of an inspection is to identify any problems you’re not willing to accept. You will then have an opportunity to withdraw your offer or negotiate further. You won’t be stuck footing the bill to solve problems you weren’t aware of.
Be Sure to Have Your Home Inspector Take a Look at These Items Before Buying a Home in Garner
1) Foundation
Foundation issues can be hugely expensive to rectify. All older homes experience some sight degree of settling, which can be seen in hairline cracks in the foundation and/or basement. But if the inspector finds that floors are severely out of level or refers you to a foundation expert, you should walk away from the deal – fast.
2) Roof
Roof problems are some of the most common and not always cheap to fix. So, ensure your home inspector completes a thorough roof inspection and notes down how old the roof is and it’s current condition.
Severe roof problems aren’t always readily apparent, especially as you take a quick glance walking up to the front of the house. It takes the trained eye of a licensed inspector. Keep in mind that the cost of a new roof starts at around $5,000 for a small house and just goes up from there.
3) Water Damage
Certainly, a basement with standing water in it should set off alarms for you. But water damage, much like roof problems, can be deceptive and hidden.
For example, a relatively small water stain on the ceiling may not seem like much of a concern, but it could indicate a much larger problem, say, a major roof leak in another area or upstairs plumbing leaks. Water infiltrates a home and travels downward along the easiest route, so it’s not always a simple matter to know where the source of the problem is. A few small stains could ultimately mean replacing a lot of plumbing.
4) Electrical System
Old wiring without adequate grounding can be a grave fire hazard. And, when your home inspector takes a look at these items, he finds that the wiring isn’t up to code, you may have to replace the home’s entire electrical system.
5) Heating System
It takes specialized knowledge and a good amount of experience to really know if the furnace is in good repair, fully functional, and safe. Your inspector may even call in an HVAC professional or an expert from the gas company if he has any doubts.
If the furnace has any major problems, often the only solution is to replace it. In that case, you’re looking at a minimum cost of $6,000.
6) Mold
A little surface mold in a poorly ventilated bathroom is fairly common and not much of a concern. But black mold in, say, a basement or crawl space is an entirely different matter. So you have to make sure your inspector checks for mold before you buy a home in Garner.
Mold can cause serious health problems such as asthma and can even result in death. And mold remediation can be a long and very expensive process – it involves not only eradicating the mold but taking measures to ensure it doesn’t return.
So before you take that final big step, be sure to have your home inspector take a look at these items before buying a home in Garner. It could save you a ton of money in the long run.