If you’re buying Davie real estate, you need to keep an eye out for basic problems when you look at a home for sale. You certainly can’t do a complete inspection – it’s not worth your time since you’ll have a complete inspection if you get serious about a house, and you don’t have the skills.
However, there are some things you can be on the lookout for to help you evaluate a home. If you find something you think is a problem, that may not be a reason to eliminate the home from consideration, but it gives you a clue as to the questions you should be asking.
No. 1: Electrical Problems
Electrical problems are one of the most common things found in regular home inspections. The types of things you want to look for during a showing include:
- Light switches that don’t work.
- Lights that flicker.
- Electrical panels that look as if a four year old did the wiring.
- Extension cords running between rooms.
No. 2: Roof Problems
It’s difficult to evaluate a roof from the ground, but some things might be visible as you look at the home, including curled or missing shingles and stains.
No 3: Random Fresh Paint
Look for places where new paint is obvious. If the homeowner has recently painted just one wall of a room, or part of a wall or ceiling, that might indicate that the homeowner needed to cover a problem.
No. 4: Stains on Walls or Ceilings
Stains often come from water leaking. If you see stains on walls or ceilings, it’s a good idea to ask about the cause.
No 5: Odors or Heavy Scents
Any unpleasant odor in a home is a red flag. The cause could be pet damage, mold, water leaks, smelly hobbies that were done indoors, and the list goes on. On the other hand, if there is a very heavy scent in the home, the possibility exists that the homeowner is trying to cover up an odor.
No. 6: Amateur Workmanship
One of the things that can cause big headaches after you’ve purchased a home is when the former owner was a self-appointed Do It Yourself expert. Look for things like tile in the bathroom that isn’t straight or has different-sized gaps in between the tiles.
Look for rooms that look like additions that weren’t done very well – maybe the floor isn’t level or the door won’t close. You need to find out if a permit was pulled to do the addition. If not, you’ve got a few problems.
- The addition may not be structurally sound.
- You’ll have to bear the burden of bringing it up to code if you ever decide to hire a contractor to fix it.
- If you want to get it fixed, but you can’t obtain a permit, you may need to tear the addition down.
No. 7: Structural Problems
Fixing structural problems can be very expensive. Look for large cracks in the walls on the interior and cracks or crumbling construction material on the outside. Other indications include uneven floors, doors or windows that won’t open and close properly. Don’t be afraid to open a window in different parts of the home just to check how well they operate.
No. 8: Mold
Florida is often hot and damp, providing the perfect environment for mold to grow. Black mold can cause health problems, and it’s very expensive to remove. Not all mold is as harmful as black mold, but it’s worth looking under sinks and in places where ventilation is poor such as crawl spaces.
No. 9: Poor Drainage
Florida’s lush landscape grows so well due to the abundance of rainfall in the state. Proper grading is required to keep all that water out of the house. It’s difficult for a homebuyer to evaluate the grading around a home. However, you can look for things such as standing water, overflowing gutters, and flower beds where it’s obvious that the mulch has been shifting position.
Avoid Being Blindsided with a Home Inspection
Your home is probably your biggest investment, and it’s important that you schedule a home inspection before your closing. When you work with a top Davie real estate agent, you won’t need to worry because your agent will help guide you through the due diligence period after you’ve signed an offer.
For example, you can trust the professionals on the Teri Arbogast Real Estate Team. Take a look at our Google reviews, and you’ll see that our clients have lots of good things to say. We’d love to make you our next successful client! Call us at 954-242-8030 or send an email today.
