Article Sphere Logo
 
Main Article Categories

 Alternative Medicine
 Arts And Entertainment
 Automotives
 Beauty
 Business
 Communications
 Computer And Technology
 Disease And Illness
 Finance
 Food And Beverage
 Health And Fitness
 Home And Family
 Home Based Business
 Insurance
 Internet And E-Business
 Legal
 News And Society
 Pets And Animals
 Product Reviews
 Real Estate
 Recreation And Sports
 Reference And Education
 Self Improvement
 Shopping
 Travel And Leisure
 Women Health And Fitness
 Women Interests And Issues
 Work At Home
 Writing And Speaking
 All 511 Categories
 
"Real Estate Investing" Article
 Article Directory Home Real Estate Real Estate Investing

Signs of Problems When Buying a House

By Expert Author: Gina LaBarbera
View Summary | Submitted: 2008-02-26 | Word Count: 450 words | Views: 77 view(s)
Gina LaBarbera
When buying a home, some people put more importance on the color of the walls than the condition of the roof. Paint color is an easy thing to change, but replacing a roof is a costly undertaking. Always hire a trained home inspector before you finally purchase a home, but use these tips as a guideline to help you weed out some of the potentially serious problems during the first walk-through.

Moisture: One of the sure signs of an over accumulation of moisture is a musty smell. If it has gotten to that stage, then mold may be a serious issue. Pay attention to strong scents of air fresheners that may be used to cover up an existing problem. Look for signs of water damage on wood flooring, inside cupboards, around toilets, appliances, or the loosening of grout in ceramic tile (often caused by a wet sub-floor). Watch for white powdery stains on basement floors, indicative of water seeping through the concrete.

Bathroom: Turn on the shower, if the water pressure is very low it could be a sign of leaky pipes. Also, give a little tug on the soap dish; if it's loose it could be a sign of rotting behind the ceramic tile.

Floors: Check the condition of the hardwood floors. Do they feel tight? Do the floors have a springing or sagging sensation when walked on, or are there cracks in any of the concrete floors or foundation? This could indicate structural problems.

Doors and Windows: Check to see that the doors and windows open and close easily, if not, it could be a sign of settling problems. Also check for wood rot along the sills.

Electrical: Look for an excess of extension cords being used, this could be a sign of electrical problems.

Furnace: Find out when the furnace was last serviced. If the seller is reluctant to give up this information, it's not a good sign.

Maintenance: The overall appearance of the home will give you a good idea as to how well the seller has maintained the property over the years.

Roof: Take a quick look to see if shingles are curling or shrinking, or if the roof is bulging. On the inside of the house dampness in the ceiling can be a sign of a leaky roof. Glance at the soffits for wood rot or nesting squirrels.

Drainage: Look at the condition of the gutters or if there is any sign of water build up around the foundation.

Siding or Brick: Take note of the overall condition of the siding or brick, checking for mold or wear..

Deck: Look for any sagging or uneven flooring that may suggest structural problems or rotting in the main beams.
About the Author/Author Bio

This article was written on behalf of Gina LaBarbera, an experienced Jacksonville FL REALTOR ®. If you're thinking about buying a home in the Sunshine State, consider searching Gina's website, SunshineStateSales.com for Jacksonville Fl real estate.

Article Source: http://www.articlesphere.com/Article/Signs-of-Problems-When-Buying-a-House/127055

This Article has been viewed 77 times.

Comments on this Article


More "Real Estate Investing" Related Articles

 

Listed below are more articles related to the above article from the "Real Estate Investing" article category.

People interested in the above article "Signs of Problems When Buying a House" are also interested in the related articles listed below:

A championship caliber athletic team doesn't begin the season by climbing into a bus and heading to the stadium to collect the trophy without having played a game. There are a number of stops along the way, some intense competition, and probably at least a few losses. Only by learning from mistakes and capitalizing on opportunity does a team get to play for the championship – and hopefully – the lessons learned along the way have laid the groundwork for their ultimate victory dance.
Making money in today's ever-changing real estate market takes perseverance, but more importantly the proper information, tools, and resources that take your needs – and the realities of today's real estate market – into consideration.
When a person fails to pay the monthly mortgage installments, his home in question comes under foreclosure and such foreclosure homes are sold by banks, lenders or government agencies to collect the debt. Such foreclosure homes can be purchased by others and the buyer gets a chance to save anywhere from ten to fifty percent off the market value, which is incomparable to any other profit on real estate.
In the first part of the article on How to have a smooth Purchase in Austin, Texas – we had discussed some of the steps you must undertake while Buying Real Estate in Austin. In this concluding article, we will discuss the rest of the things to remember before making any property investment in Austin, Texas. Buying a new home can be an exciting time, whether it's your first home or your fifth. However, your savings, your credit rating, and your financial freedom are all on the line when purchasing a new Home in Austin, Texas.
What sets truly successful investors apart from those who are only moderately successful or – worse – those who prematurely pack it in and decide to give up on real estate investing altogether? Mistakes do it every time. However, all investors are prone to mistakes. The key to moving forward is recognizing those mistakes and working proactively to keep them to a minimum.
Buying a new home can be an exciting time, whether it's your first home or your fifth. However, your savings, your credit rating, and your financial freedom are all on the line when purchasing a new Home in Austin, Texas. You want to feel comfortable when it is time to sign on the dotted line and feel good about the home you are about to purchase. It's important not to let your emotions cloud your judgment when you set out to buy what is most likely the largest single item of your life - your new home.
Buying property is one of the largest purchases you’ll ever make. Even if you aren’t putting up a large down payment, by having a mortgage you are making yourself responsible for a sizable amount of money. There’s also the possibility of tax consequences. By saving as much cash as you can, you’ll have money for the things that inevitably pop up. As it is, you know you’ll need to pay for the closing costs and the initial down payment. Closing costs include the mortgage, fire and hazard insurance, title fees, and many other costly items.
Article Directory Home Real Estate Real Estate Investing

Can't find what you're looking for? Try Google Search!
(Search in 26 languages: English, Spanish, French, Japanese, Arabic, Italian, German,
Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Dutch, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Greek, Serbian
Slovak, Hebrew, Swedish, Romanian, Polish, Norwegian, Finnish, Danish, Czech, Croatian, Bulgarian)
 
 
Copyright © 2005 - by Larry Lim, Singapore - Article Search Engine Directory at ArticleSphere.com™
All Rights Reserved Worldwide. All Trademarks and Servicemarks are the property of the respective owners.
Template Design by Internet Marketing Singapore | Internet Marketing | Singapore Classified
Español Français Bulgarian 汉语 漢語 Croatian Czech Danish Dutch Finnish Deutsch Ελληνικά Italiano 日本語 한국어 Norwegian Polish PortRomanian Русско Serbian Slovak Swedish [أربيك] Hebrew