Buying a house is a lot trickier than most people think. Not only do you have to spend copious amounts of time searching the web and classified ads for local houses for sale, but you also need to go and check each home for sale locally out in person.
And when you do look at these homes for sale, you need to pay attention to the basement. This one part of the house can reveal whether or not you should walk away. You just need to know what to look for. Here are a few pointers to keep in mind as you look at homes for sale.
Cracks in the Foundation.
One of the most important things you can do when checking the basements of homes for sale is look for cracks in the foundation. Although hairline cracks are typically pretty harmless, any fracture that’s wider than three-sixteenths of an inch can mean serious trouble, particularly if they get wider. Such an issue is going to need the attention of a structural engineer, which will undoubtedly cost quite a bit. The longer the problem goes on, the more it will cost, too.
Mold and Mildew.
As you look for cracks in the walls of basements, keep an eye out for white and green colonies of mold. Not only are these a gross issue you won’t want to deal with, it also indicates that the homes for sale have even bigger issues. The existence of mold and mildew may mean that there’s excessive amounts of water getting in through cracks and leaks, which will cause more and more damage the longer it’s left unchecked. It may also mean that the sump pumps of the homes for sale are missing, broken, or not installed correctly.
Faulty Wiring.
Chances are you aren’t an electrician, so it can be tricky to check homes for sale for faulty wiring. Just keep an eye out for what may appear to be inferior electrical work, or exposed wiring, as such issues will be incredibly costly to repair, especially if the home is particularly old.
If you check the basements of homes for sale for these issues, you’ll be sure to avoid poor investments. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments.