Do you know why real estate experts insist that you carry out a home inspection before you buy a house? It’s largely because when carried out thoroughly, they prevent you from making costly mistakes and decisions you’re bound to regret later.
One thing you might not know is that despite carrying out a home inspection, you can still end up making mistakes. This usually happens when some things slip past you during the inspection. Sadly, many people end up missing the warning signs. To help you carry out a more detailed home inspection, below are some red flags you should be on the lookout for.
Insects and Pests That Wreck Wood
This is one of the most overlooked aspects of a home inspection. This explains why a growing number of people don’t actively look out for it during a home inspection. It’s okay to appreciate the architecture of a home you’re planning to buy, you should not be carried away by aesthetics alone.
Insects and wood-eating pests can weaken the core of a house by eating at over a long period of time. This leaves the house unsafe. The biggest threat to homes are termites, carpenter ants and boring ants. These culprits can eat away the long-term value of a house, which is why you must be proactive in looking out for them at the home inspection stage.
As an organism, rot fungus also constitutes a red flag. It is also known as the wood-decay fungus – This covers any species of fungus that digests moist wood, causing it to rot. It’s important to work with a real estate agent who has experience looking out for these insects and organisms during a home inspection. On your part, you should dedicate some time to find out the things that attract these pests to homes. In some cases, you might not see the pests but spot the signs of a looking or existing infestation.
For termites, you should be on the lookout for piles of termite shelter tubes in or around the home. You should also keep an eye out for sagging floors and hollow wood.
Water Problems
Does the idea of living in a house on the water appeal to you? It should except you are hydrophobic. However, having loose water in your house can be a recipe for disaster. As bad as this might sound, it is even worse in a situation where the water is unseen.
The danger of having water in your house is that it ends up wrecking havoc. Most often than not, by the time you witness the physical damage, it is already too late. This is why it is important to check for any signs of water intrusion into the house.
Ensure that the real estate agent you are working with has a good eye for spotting signs of water intrusion in a house. He/she should ideally know where to look during the inspection. If there have been previous signs of water entry into the home, this should be spotted during a home inspection.
If a house is prone to flooding because of its location, this is something you want to know. Nigeria has witnessed several cases of flood value destroying property and values
Defective Roof
The condition of the roof a house should be a deal breaker because it is designed to protect the house from natural elements. Don’t breeze through the roof of a house for any reason.
Be sure to confirm that the roof has been properly installed. In a case where there are any problems with the roof, this should be detected at the stage of inspecting the house.
In some cases, the roof might have been properly installed yet end up discovering it is riddled with wear patterns. Damaged tiles and singles can also pose the same problem if you don’t spot them.
Defective Wiring
The fact that wall sockets in a house look pretty guarantees nothing. Remember that defective electrical wiring remains one of the major causes of fires in residential homes.
You should pay close attention to the number of electrical outlets in several rooms in the house. If they are too few, you will find yourself needed multiple extension boxes. You shouldn’t even consider this option if you intend to have toddlers and children living with you.
Exposed wires stand out as another red flag. They increase the risk of electrocution. You should inspect the house with an electrical engineer to put yourself on the safe side.
Final Thoughts on Home Inspection
Before you buy a house, insist on carrying out a thorough home inspection. If the property owner refuses to allow this or appears reluctant to honour this request, that alone should be considered a red flag.
It should never be done in a hurry. You are entitled to a reasonable amount of time to inspect the property before you make a decision. Inspecting a property does not mean you have to buy it. After the inspection, you can decide whether you are buying or have concerns.
