One of the worst parts of the home buying process is getting back a home inspection report. Every smart buyer should get their potential home inspected to ensure they know exactly what they are walking into.

Everyone dreams of a report that comes back to say the house is in tip-top shape, but this is rarely the case. There is usually at least one major problem with the house and buyers should walk away if any of these five problems present themselves.

The Foundation

Everyone always looks at the foundation first. If the foundation is bad in the house, there are going to be other problems. Not to mention fixing foundation problems can be expensive and can take up a lot of time. Taking on a property with foundation issues is not something a first-time home buyer should try.

Many times the foundation has to be fixed and the soil around it must be dug out to reach it. This is expensive in itself. From there, the the yard needs to be repaired, making one expensive project into two expensive projects.

There are times where foundation problems are not hard to handle, but a structural engineer should always give the go-ahead before purchasing the home.

Check the Wires

Construction has changed a lot over the years, such as when trying to find cheaper alternatives to copper aluminum wiring became popular. Aluminum wiring is dangerous to have in a house because it does not conduct electricity properly. Through repeated use, the wires will expand and then contract, which loosens their connection.

As these connections loosen, there is an increased chance of a fire starting. If aluminum wiring is found in the home inspection, it is important to replace it. While some may suggest to only replace wiring near the outlets, it is best to redo the entire house.

Unfortunately, this is going to cost the homeowner a lot to convert over.

Outdated Heating

An older house may have many outdated problems lurking waiting to be revealed by the home inspection. Oil tanks were once buried in a person’s yard to be used to heat their home during the cold winter months. These oil tanks were often left in the ground when new systems were installed.

This can cause a lot of problems for a new homeowner. That oil tank could be leaking and will need to be removed. The fee to remove an oil tank can start at ten thousand dollars and go up from there. A major problem with these tanks is there may not be any indication that it is buried. A homeowner will have to do some digging to learn about any tanks not disclosed by the seller.

Plumbing Problems

There are always problems when houses were constructed with materials that were the cheaper alternative. Polybutylene pipes were used for a short period of time instead of copper pipes. These pipes were not used for long because they were found to degrade too quickly.

The chlorine that was in the water would break down the pipes and make them leak. Often times this caused extreme amounts of flooding for the homeowner. Homeowners who experienced problems with the pipes changed them to more trusted materials.  

But those that did not have a problem did not switch over. There are still homes that have these pipes that are just waiting to burst. Replacing all of the pipes in a home can add up quickly and cost a homeowner at least ten thousand dollars.  

Bad Upgrades

If the past homeowner thought that they were handy, they may have completed many projects around the house. Some of these projects may have needed a permit to complete. If they failed to get a permit, this can spell trouble for the next owner of the house.

Any problems that stem from a bad do-it-yourself project can be rejected when making a claim to the insurance company. If the proper permits were not obtained, they do not have to cover the damages, often leaving a homeowner a mess to clean up with no way to pay.

Home inspections can reveal many reasons why a buyer should walk away from a house. Major problems that will cause them to sink thousands of dollars into the home is one. There are houses available that do not have these major problems, and a buyer would be smart to wait it out and look for one that does not need extensive work.  

At the same time, if you are trying to sell a home with any of these issues, we can buy it! We can make you a cash offer for your home and there is no need for you to do any work. Contact us today to see how we can help!