DON’T BUY A MONEY PIT: 7 THINGS TO LOOK FOR
Small construction problems often hint at bigger ones
Annemarie Kill and husband John Duffy bought a money pit with their first house, but were determined not to land another one during their second round of house-hunting. “We got our dream house,” divorce lawyer Kill said. They got an inspector, too, but didn’t realize they should also consult someone who specialized in fireplace inspections. As it turned out, the lining inside their wood-burning fireplace, and the top of the chimney, was falling apart, and they were forced to convert to a gas fireplace. Afew things to keep your eyes peeled for:
Doors that don’t close properly.
This — or a crack in the foundation, or uneven steps into the home — may signal that the house has settled and the foundation is uneven, said Joe Taylor, contractor and owner of Chicagobased Taylor Construction. Foundation problems can lead to water damage. They can also mean concrete may need to be pumped into the slab to make it level. Other repairs could include pipes. “It’s a mess,” Taylor said.
Discoloration.
Water is your home’s No. 1 enemy, said Steve Nations, owner of Nations Home Inspections, based in Oak Park, Ill. He advises looking at all the walls and ceilings for discoloration — yellow spots on a white wall — that might signal a water leak. In the basement, scan the bottoms of walls for signs of water. While you’re down there, take a good sniff for any hint of mould or mustiness.
Poor water pressure.
“Run the water at the bathroom sink and at the tub or shower at the same time,” Nations said. “Is the water pressure good?” Older houses with galvanized steel water pipes have bad water pressure that can be fixed only with a costly upgrade to copper pipes.
Uneven stairs.
All of the riser heights and tread depths should be the same. “In my experience, if the carpenter didn’t get the stairs right, then he probably messed up plenty of other things that are likely to come back to haunt you later,” Nations said.
Very old double-hung windows.
These, as well as casement, sidecranking windows, can be hard to open and close. Replacement windows can be pricey, costing up to $1,000 (U.S.) each.
Dead trees.
Beetles and ants can destabilize a tree, causing it to fall and damage a house. An arborist should be able to offer a free or low-cost inspection to let you know if the tree needs to go — and why. Also, make sure those insects haven’t infested the house.
An uneven floor.
This could point to settlement or, worse, termites. Astructural engineer should be consulted before purchasing.