Most people consider themselves savy buyers. They think they know how to spot a good one from a bad one. Some are just waiting to enter your pocket book and some sellers are eager to let them go. There are a few hard to spot serious problems I would like to point out.
Water Damage - Porous grout and cracks less then one sixteenth of an inch can allow water through to do thousands of dollars of damage over time.
Improper Wiring- This includes such situations as amateur wiring. Ungrounded recepticles, lack of ground fault circut interuptors in wet locations, over loaded breakers etc. Aluminum wiring can be problematic and should be full evaluated before closing the sale. Aluminum wiring which was common in houses built in the 1960’s and 1970’s.
Attic Issues- Most people almost never think to look in attics. A good Home inspector will. You want to pay attention for signs of roof leaks, missingsupport trusses, pest infestations, illegal venting, illegal wiring and inadequate insulation.
Chigging Drains- Drains that chug like an unturned soda bottle or toliets that don’t flush correctly. These are signs of unproper plumbing ventilation.
Roof Damage- Eighty percent of new roof construction litigation is said to involve the roof. If the roof is bad, the rest of the house is in danger of damage as well.
Heating and Cooling Systems-Gas-fired furnaces have the potential to indroduce deadley carbon monoxide gas into the living area. If the gas company decides your furnance is unsafe prior to your move-in, they may lock it out and require replacement before turning on the gas to your new home.
Foundation Problems- Flower beds planted too close to exterior walls could draw too much water towards the homes foundation, causing damage. A damp basement might also be an indication that the foundation needs work-it’s one of the most expensive home repairs around.
A rising trend is for buyers to want to work directly with the listing agent. In doing so they think they will save money by buying the house for less if the seller does not have to pay the full listing fee. They falsly assume that if the seller is not required to pay a broker co-op fee it’s money the seller had planed to spend to sell his home in the first place, then the seller would be willing to reduce the price of the home by the amount he would have paid in co-op dollars. The reality is the buyer is trying to negotiate dollars the seller no longer has. The seller is obligated to pay the agreed amount listing fee regardless if a broker co-op fee is paid out 99% of the time to the listing broker. Remember the listing broker works for the seller, represents the seller. I just explained some things that buyer’s need to be aware of when shopping for a home to buy. Do yourself a hugh favor. Hire a buyer’s agent! The buyer’s agent works for you, represents you and through thier experience and knowledge base can give you the best advice and help you avoid costly mistakes.
