If you are house hunting, it's easy to be swayed by design features and miss
the red flags that signal the home may just be a money pit.
Evidence of Deferred Maintenance
Get ready to learn a whole new language as you go
through the real estate transaction. One of the terms you may frequently hear,
especially from your agent and home inspector, is "deferred maintenance."
Deferred maintenance is, simply, the putting off of routine home maintenance.
Whether because of procrastination or lack of funds, many homeowners fail to
perform the tasks that a house requires to remain in good condition.
For instance, failing to replace a cracked or broken wax ring on a toilet can
lead to huge repair bills. Caught early, it's a relatively inexpensive fix. If
not attended to, however, moisture will seep from the toilet, intruding into the
flooring and even the sub floor. Mold may form. Before you know it, you're
looking at not only fixing the toilet but replacing the flooring as well.
Let's take a look at some signs that a homeowner has put off performing
routine but critical maintenance:
Cracks in the walls – Although this may be just a result of
natural home shifting, a crack in the wall may be a symptom of a larger problem.
Vertical cracks are typically harmless. Horizontal cracks, or jagged cracks that
run at an angle, on the other hand, deserve closer inspection. These may
indicate foundation shifting or water damage.
Ceiling stains –
Stains on the ceiling are
common and indicate a problem somewhere above the stain. The problem may be a
roof leak or defective chimney flashing, allowing rain and snow to seep
through.
Ceiling stains may also indicate condensation. If the stain is near the
bathroom's exhaust fan, condensation is most likely the culprit, and an uninsulated duct in the attic may be the cause.
Then, there is the obvious plumbing leak. If an upstairs bathroom is located
above the stain there may be a leak in the tub, toilet or sink. Press your toes
around the floor along the edge of the toilet's base. If it feels spongy, the
toilet may be leaking. A dry stain means that the problem no longer exists while a
wet stain means the problem persists.
Musty odors –
Many houses contain hidden
health hazards, and one of the biggest is indoor air pollution.
Mold, sometimes visually evident or you
can smell it. Mold is one of the most common indoor air pollutants, and we
inhale the spores every time we take a breath. If the air smells musty, there is
most likely mold somewhere in the home. This may require further investigation before signing on the dotted line.
Sticking doors and windows – Open and close all interior
windows and doors in the house. If they stick, it may be
an indication of the foundation shifting. Look at the top of the sticking doors
for a gap. This is another indication of the same problem.
While you can never completely eliminate risk when you buy a home, you can
reduce it by exercising "due diligence," another of those terms you will hear during the home-buying process. Due diligence simply describes
your duty to investigate the condition of the property before you buy it. Many
home buyers rely on professional home inspectors to fulfill this aspect of their
investigation, and there is nothing wrong with that. By knowing what to look
for, however, you can guide your home inspector to those areas of the home that
you think require extra scrutiny.
Richard Thyssen, Broker of Record
Colleen Thyssen, Sales Representative
Direct: 519-495-1541
Email:
rthyssen@rogers.com
www.thyssengroup.com
There is something to be said about "red" doors. They stand out and create an inviting and classic look.
