Home Buyer's Checklist for Hidden House Problems

Buying a home is already one of the most stressful things you will do in your life. However, buying a home with hidden problems can cost you tens of thousands of dollars and more stress than imaginable. The good thing is that by spending a few extra minutes while looking at homes you can find many of the issues that will cause you trouble in the future.

Attic

The attic is one of the most commonly overlooked places by potential homeowners. There are several reasons for this from it being a difficult place to get to, as well as an out-of-the-way location house seekers don’t even think about. Yet, the attic can provide you with a wealth of knowledge about hidden house problems. So, if you are seriously considering making an offer on a home ask to see the attic and look for problems such as:

• Rodent or insect infestation or damage. This can be significant droppings, nests, or random food spread across the floor.
• Rotting, buckling, or damaged wood
• Mold
• Signs of water damage or roof leaks

 Basement

Most potential home buyers will go into the basement to, if anything, take a look around and see what they can do with it. However, as a huge part of the structure for a home many basements take on the full weight of the house, as well as manages the interior utilities linking the home to sewers. Basements are prone to sewer back-ups, foundation problems, and plumbing or water damage. Things to look for:

• Mold
• Water stains on carpet
• Bending, bubbling, or buckling wood
• Curling, or displaced flooring, especially adhesive backed flooring like linoleum.
• Cracks in walls
• Water damage around windows.
• Dry “streams” of water residue
• Look in corners and edges for signs of material left from sewer backup.

 Foundation

Cracks in the foundation of a home can be costly to fix, especially if you need to replace sections, or the entire foundation. All foundations deteriorate over time, so if you are looking for an older home you will have to have some understanding of what to expect. However, you should not settle for a house with major cracks and chipping on the inside, or outside of the home. That is unless you are getting a great deal and understand the problems that exist.

Use Your Senses

As you walk through the home use more than just your eyes. If something doesn’t smell right, you may want to explore further. This is especially true in areas such as storage, out of the way rooms, basements, and attics. If the area has an organic or moldy scent you will want to inquire as to the cause. This is a good indication a mold problem may exist, which can cause thousands in mold cleanup and management.

The Utility Room

Utility rooms are another, often passed by part of the home that can give you a good indication of potential hidden problems. Along with the common culprits, mold and cracks, the utility room can provide you with a more intimate look at features such as water heater, plumbing, and electrical work in the electrical cabinets. Look for:

• Unintelligible or half-hazard electrical cabinet
• Random dry water-residue streams
• Cracks near the water heater of furnace
• Damage around windows
• Signs of rodents

Under Sink Cabinets

The cabinets under kitchen and bathroom sinks are interesting. Most potential buyers will look inside the cabinets, but for reasons other than looking for damage. Often, people are simply looking to see how much space is available, or if there are storage alternatives. However, don’t be afraid to move over the current homeowners cleaning fluids to look for buckling or bending cabinet wood, water stains, or leaking plumbing. While these signs could be a quick fix, they could also be a sign of a much bigger plumbing problem.