Getting a thorough professional inspection before buying a house is a must. While you may be all set to sign on the dotted line and move your stuff in, sometimes inspections can uncover serious issues. Our experts weigh in on seven problems that may mean a house isn’t as homey as you thought:
1. Foundation issues
Foundation issues can be a big deal and are typically very expensive, says Mike Lyon, Quicken Loans vice president of operations.
“You do not want to see the words ‘foundation problems’ anywhere in the home inspection or appraisal,” he says. “If the home inspector puts a golf ball down on one side of the house and it rolls to the other side, then you need to walk away.”
Almost every house has “settling” of some kind, Lyon says. The weight of the home causes it to settle into the ground over time, and most structures have hairline cracks somewhere in the basement. Many cracks are no big deal, but others can indicate a more serious problem.
“Depending on topography, the home may settle more than it should and that can cause structural weakness,” he says. “If an inspector has any doubt about the kind of cracks they see, they may refer you to a foundation engineer who can tell you whether or not they are dangerous.”
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