How to Spot Damage Before Buying a House

The home buying process is a tedious task, and it doesn’t get easy if you purchase a home with a lot of damage to it.  A home with unseen damage can cost you a lot more money to repair or renovate any part of the house.  It is imperative you inspect the home by an experienced home inspector to make sure that everything is up to code.  Nothing is worse than purchasing a home, only to find out that there was water damage from the previous owner.  The nightmare that comes with any damage to a house isn’t easy to fix.  Looking for signs of damage before signing the paperwork will ensure your dream home doesn’t turn into a nightmare once you move in.

Structural Issues

If the doors and windows aren’t opening or closing properly, the structure may have settled wrong.  If you see cracks along the outside of the home, the structure may have some damage.  Try opening and closing the windows while you’re looking at the house.  Make note of any cracks along the bottom of the outside of the house.

Excessive Pest Damage

It may be difficult to tell if there is any pest damage unless you open the walls.  You can try and get any information from the previous owner to see if they had any issues.  If you see any insects out in the open, it can be a sign they have a way to get inside.  You should have an exterminator come in to look around.

Water Damage

Any moisture or water stains in the basement may indicate the water isn’t draining away from the home.  Any water damage to a house may cause structural damage. Flood zones can be dangerous areas to live in, so find out if the house has been through a flood.

Faulty Electrical Work

Any old wiring can be detrimental to any new appliances. Faulty wiring is a fire hazard, so make sure you find out if the wiring has been updated. It is expensive to fix any faulty or old wiring, so make sure you don’t have to update it.

Mold

Many types of mold found in a Santa Rosa home can be detrimental to your health.  You want to make sure the house is mold free.  You can have a company come in to take care of the mold, but they are expensive. Make sure the mold has been removed before you purchase the home.