How to Spot Problems in Homes
by Elise Sole
Homeowners sign a
disclosure document about their property so buyers know what they’re getting
into; however, sometimes it can be conveniently tempting to forget facts.
So,
just to be on the safe side, here are some common cover-ups and how you can
crack them.
Water damage
Water stains aren’t just ugly; they’re also
signs of leaks, and a breeding ground for mold. And they’re fairly easy
for homeowners to hide with strategic decoration or staging, according to Frank
Baldassarre, owner of Ace Home Inspections on Staten Island,
NY.
“Many sellers try to conceal water intrusion in
the basement, for example, with a pile of cardboard boxes or suitcases,” he
says. You could always ask the homeowner to move the furniture a few inches and
shine a pocket flashlight around. If the home has obvious red flags (an odd
odor or visible wall cracks), it’s not unreasonable to request removing a large
picture frame to take a peek at what’s behind it.
Another popular tactic for concealing water
damage: a coat of fresh paint.
“Always ask the homeowner when they last
painted,” says Baldassarre. “If it was a year ago, they’re probably not trying
to hide water stains.”
A contaminated backyard
If you’re looking at an older
home—specifically, if it was built before 1975—odds are it used to run on oil.
Back then, homeowners typically had large oil tanks installed in the basement
or underground in the backyard to conserve space and maintain the home’s
aesthetic.
“The
problem is that oil can contaminate soil, and because it’s incredibly costly to
remove, some people try to hide evidence of the tank,” says Baldassarre.
“Recently, I arrived to a home inspection early and caught the homeowner sawing
off the top of the fill pipe.”
So while walking through a home’s backyard,
look for a small fill pipe sticking up from the ground (sometimes covered by
patches of grass), a dead giveaway that an oil tank is on the premises. Or
double-check by asking the seller if the home was heated with oil in the past.
A shaky foundation
If the paint job in a home looks a little
uneven around the door frames or windows, take a closer to look to see if it’s
concealing any jagged cracks in the wall, advises Flynn. Those zigzags can
signify foundation problems, a costly and potentially dangerous situation for
potential buyers.
A weak foundation can prevent cabinets and
doors from closing, cause supporting beams to snap from stress, or even result
in a poor home appraisal, which can affect your loan and the home’s resale
value.
Another clue that the house has a weak
foundation: “if you feel as though you’re suddenly walking up or down—even
slightly—as you move through the home,” says Flynn.
Problem neighbors
Barking dogs, rocker teens, and blaring horns
are all factors that can turn off potential buyers.
That’s why some owners try to downplay these situations with well-timed open
houses and neighborly negotiations.
“Homeowners have an obligation to disclose
what are called ‘neighborhood nuisances,’ but if they don’t, buyers have to
rely on their word,” says Carrie Benuska, a Realtor® at John Aaroe
Group in Pasadena, CA. “I know people who have asked their neighbors to keep
noisy dogs inside during showings or only open their homes during strategic
times of the day.”
Even well-intentioned owners may not be candid
if they’ve become accustomed to their environment. One workaround, suggests
Benuska, is for buyers to take a stroll around the neighborhood at different
times of the day to get a more authentic feel for the area. And don’t hesitate
to make small talk with the locals, who can offer a more objective view of
their surroundings.
Weird temperature changes
Anyone who’s lived in a home with a freezing
bathroom or unusually warm bedroom knows that a temperature imbalance can
result in avoiding a room altogether. That’s why tapping into your senses is
key when viewing your potential new home.
“If you walk into a room and there’s a subtle
shift in the atmosphere—maybe the air feels dry or damp—ask the owner what the
room feels like throughout the seasons,” says Benuska. “The culprit is usually
poor insulation, sometimes as a result of the owner adding a second room or
floor to the home.” Oftentimes, an owner isn’t trying to outright conceal extension
work. However, if the construction was done without a permit—“more common than
you’d imagine,” says Benuska—you aren’t required to pay for the extra square
footage.
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