All home problems are not created equal. And unless your job involves building, maintaining, or purchasing homes, it can be hard to know which problems are relatively easy fixes and which should trigger alarm bells.
Here, home improvement, real estate, and inspection experts share the issues they never breeze by when home shopping, so you can take pause, too. Then use that beat to gather the necessary information to help decide whether or not it’s a deal breaker for you.
1. Undesirable Location
“It’s the one thing you can’t change,” says Lincoln Edwards, co-host of Austin Flipsters, YouTube’s largest house-flipping channel, who has renovated more than 100 homes in the last decade. Edwards avoids homes on busy roads, near commercial buildings, in poorly rated school districts, and in areas with high crime. Avoid homes in flood, hurricane, or wildfire zones, too, which can lead to high home insurance premiums.
2. Foundation Problems
You may have noticed the signs: sloping floors; cracks in walls; doors and windows that stick. “For me, this would be enough to justify looking for another house,” says Chris Deziel, a home improvement writer with 30 years of experience as a builder, remodeler, and landscaper. Really love the house? “Be prepared for expensive repairs, which could involve lifting the house to rebuild the foundation,” Deziel says.
3. Mold
Peeling paint, a musty smell, ceiling stains, and spongy-feeling walls are some signs of a moisture issue, and so a high probability of mold growth. While that’s the most common environmental issue, alarm bells should sound if your inspector turns up asbestos or radon as well. Nick Gromicko, founder of InterNACHI®, the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, considers all solid grounds for canceling the sales agreement. “Don’t trade your health for a home,” he says.
4. Low Resale Potential
“When showing a home, I always have resale value in mind,” says Cathy Hirsch, a Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate agent in Omaha, NE. She’s listened to enough prospective buyers’ deal-breakers that she can’t help but mentally tally the common ones, such as busy streets, poor parking options, and lack of a bathtub. Even if they’re items you’re completely fine with, she says, think of the future you potentially struggling to find a buyer or having to settle for a lower offer than you’d like.
5. Poorly Done or Unpermitted Projects
You get the sense that something is off. Tells include uneven floors, exposed wires, gaps in trim, sloppy caulking, or creative use of materials (but not in a good way). The more that catches your eye, the more you should stop and think. “If you can spot shoddy craftsmanship on the surface, there’s a good chance bigger problems are lurking beneath,” says Eddie Gutierrez, a Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate agent in Milford, CT.
What’s more, those poorly done DIY projects, as well as spaces with low ceilings or those not reflected on the listing, may indicate that permits weren’t pulled, which could lead to legal, financial, and safety issues for buyers, Gutierrez says. Commonly unpermitted spaces include finished basements and attic or garage conversions.
6. Old Systems
Just because a home’s electrical, plumbing/sewer line, and HVAC systems are currently functioning doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. Their age and condition are major factors to consider. “If your inspection report reveals a recurring theme of major systems nearing, at, or past their functional life expectancy, you can expect major repair and replacement costs in the near future,” home inspector Gromicko says.
“Ask yourself this: If two or more of the issues the home inspector discovered need to be addressed within the first year or two of ownership, will I be able to afford this home?” he says. Do the math and financially prepare—or pull the plug and keep hunting.
7. Termites
Look for telltale signs that termites are feeding on the home’s wood. These include mud tubes, their self-made passageways; as well as holes or channels in wood beams, and little piles of what appears to be sawdust (but is actually their feces, called frass). If the infestation has progressed, you might notice cracks in the walls or sloping floors and ceilings, all signs of structural damage, Deziel says.
If minor, it could be an inexpensive fix. But a large infestation may not be worth the headache or the cost—potentially upwards of $10,000. “It may involve not only rebuilding damaged posts and beams but also tenting the house to get rid of the pests,” says Deziel. Have a reputable exterminator weigh in to help you make an informed decision.
8. A Bad Roof
Replacing a roof is no small issue, financially or logistically, so it makes sense to know upfront if you need to replace it. This may or may not be a deal-breaker, however, depending on a few factors. “They’re an issue we don’t mind fixing, as replacing them adds value and is relatively straightforward,” says Edwards.
That’s assuming that the issue hasn’t spread. Will Palmer, a Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate agent in Panama City Beach, FL, offers the flip side: “Roofs can be expensive and also take time to change. Not to mention the fear of what else might be discovered in the process.” Issues such as interior water or structural damage and pests may indicate the problem is more complicated than a simple replacement, which would be reason enough to walk away.
By Berit Thorkelson | Better Homes & Gardens
