3 Big Problems to Look for When Buying a Home

3 Big Problems to Look for When Buying a Home

So, you’ve searched long and hard and you think you’ve finally found the one. A home you absolutely love. Your dream house. The neighborhood is ideal: a tree-lined street, a walkable community, and a great school district. The home has everything you’d hoped for: it’s the perfect size, it has the right amount of beds and baths, it has a spacious yard with a pool, a gourmet kitchen, and even a theater room!

While you may be ready to sign on the dotted line, carefully consider the condition of the home. Although a seller is supposed to reveal known issues with a house in a disclosure form within the listing contract, it’s possible that they may not know about all of the problems that may exist. Unfortunately, some sellers may even purposefully omit issues.

Consider these three major problems to look out for:

Problem #1: Foundation Issues

Potential foundation problems can sometimes be easy to identify, if you know what to look for—and it’s not always visible cracks in the concrete foundation itself.

If you see or experience floors in the home that are noticeably slanted, interior doors that have uneven gaps between the doors and the door frames when they’re closed, doors that “stick” when you try to open them, or windows with frames that are out of square—it could be the result of a foundation moving or cracking.

A major cause of foundation movement and cracking is when a property’s soil is improperly graded and causes water to drain back toward the home. Water that wicks up to a foundation can also result in rotting framing and mold inside the walls. A professional can perform a thorough assessment.

Problem #2: A Musty Smell

Mold and mildew may not always be visible, but these micro-organisms may still lurk in a home. If you detect a musty smell somewhere in your potential new home, investigate. Depending on where you notice it, look for leaks beneath sinks in the kitchen and baths, around windows, and in the basement. Mold could also lurk in a home’s HVAC system, which should be evaluated by a professional.

Problem #3: A High Sales Turnover

If your potential new home has been sold frequently, it could just be coincidental—or it may point to an issue that the home’s previous owners did not become aware of until after they’d moved in. Although it’s not easy to know exactly why previous owners moved, you definitely don’t want to purchase a home that’s become a hot potato. Your realtor will investigate to help you determine whether your potential new residence truly can be your dream home, and not a nightmare!

REALTORS® Alexandra Janz and Juergen Haeringer Are Your Premiere Real Estate Brokers

At Alexandra Janz AJ International Group Naples, the team of Alexandra Janz & Juergen Haeringer, Broker Associates & Luxury Properties Specialists with William Raveis-Florida, LLC, help clients realize their dreams of purchasing a luxury home and basking in the glow of the Naples and Southwest Florida luxury lifestyle. Alexandra is not only an expert in the real estate market in Naples and Southwest Florida, but in international markets as well.

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