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Red Flags for Utah County Home Buyers
By Kerry Oman | September 1, 2011
Buying a Springville real estate is exciting, but it’s also an intimidating prospect. A home is so much more than an everyday purchase; not only is it the place you and your family will be living, but there is a huge financial commitment involved.
Whether you’ve found Mapleton homes for sale, or if another Utah County house seems perfect and move-in ready, be sure and take the time to look out for these common red flags that might indicate not all is as well as you hoped.
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The level of surface care: You might be really good at seeing a home’s true potential, even if the last owners didn’t pay too much attention to things like landscaping, fresh paint, or even a very high level of cleanliness. Beware, though — if a house doesn’t look great on the surface, chances are the previous homeowners didn’t do a whole lot of more intensive maintenance, either. Be sure and hire an inspector to look at things like plumbing, electric work, and other deep-seated problems.
Moisture in the air or in the structure: Water and other moisture-related damages can be some of the most expensive to repair — and the easiest to hide with a fresh coat of paint and a few scented candles. If the home feels musty or if there is a lot of moisture in the air, you’ll want to be wary of mold issues and other rot problems. The same is true of water damages related to plumbing or a bad roof.
The neighborhood as a whole: If you drive down the street and notice several houses for sale within the same neighborhood, you might want to take a look at the state of things in that area. Property values in that area might be falling, or there could be an environmental or sound issue that people are trying to escape. You might also find that a high concentration of rental properties can decrease quality of life in the neighborhood.
Big-ticket items: Hire someone to look at the most expensive things to repair in a house. The roof, the plumbing, the electric system…all these things wear out over time, and it’s not necessarily anyone’s fault. But if everything in the house is about five years away from needing to be replaced, you should make sure you’ll be financially able to handle a sudden onslaught of repairs.
Off-limit rooms: If the Springville homes for sale you’re looking at are owner-occupied at the time, it might seem perfectly natural that they have one or two rooms that aren’t for public viewing. However, don’t buy the home until you’ve gotten a glimpse behind closed doors. You never know what kinds of damages might be hiding in there.
Visible cracks: Cracks can and do happen to the walls when a house settles, but they shouldn’t be so bad they indicate possible structural damage or a shifting foundation. Have a home inspector look twice at any cracks or doors/windows that don’t open and close properly.
One of the best things you can do to ensure you buy a home that won’t give you any post-purchase surprises is to hire a home inspector who can sign off on the home and let you know about any potential problems you’ll have later on down the road. Although the cost might put you off, it’s better to buy Springville real estate you know will not only keep your family happy, but keep you safe, as well.
Topics: Mapleton Homes for Sale, Springville Real Estate, Utah County Real Estate | No Comments »