If you’re a first-time homebuyer, it can be quite frightening deciding upon your next humble abode; you’ve got to consider location, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and of course, the price tag. But one of the key things you have to keep an eye out for when touring new homes is the infrastructure of the house itself.
Is the property in need of any major repairs? What even classifies as a major repair? Are cracks in the foundation signs that should be telling you this property is a “no-go”? And more importantly, how do you recognize them? All of these questions will be answered in this useful article, hopefully putting your worrying mind at ease…
Take Your Time; Have a Good Look Around
So many first-time buyers are so excited to finally own a home that they may rush into locking one in, without taking the time to properly inspect the property. If you intend to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a home, you have to ensure that you’ve explored every nook and cranny of that house before settling. Some major infrastructure damage can be hidden away within parts of a house that might not be on display for all to see; unfortunately, when it comes to housing, the motto of “out of sight, out of mind” doesn’t quite apply. So, make sure you take your time and really do a deep dive into the estate.
But what exactly are you looking for on this journey of exploration? Well, here are a few things to keep your eye out for while inspecting the property, and what they might mean about the structure of the house…
Foundation Cracks
Foundation cracks can seem incredibly daunting to a first-time buyer. Having large cracks within the walls or floors of your building seems like a pretty serious issue, and while it could be, most of the time it looks a lot worse than it really is. Most foundation cracks come in three variations: vertical, diagonal, or horizontal. Pretty much ALL HOMES HAVE some sort of superficial/tension crack. These tension cracks tend to be on the surface of the walls of the foundation. They may appear more like a crease on the wall.
Vertical foundation cracks are by far the most common form of foundation cracks. They’re a result of heavy rainfall exerting great pressure on the foundation of the home. 99% of the time, they can simply be fixed with a sealing agent such as epoxy or similar solutions; these should not be of much concern. Routine repairs such as these are expected in most homes, and you shouldn’t be put off by them.
Diagonal cracks?
Diagonal cracks can be dangerous if left unchecked for long periods of time. They’re a sign of differential settlement, essentially an imbalance of tension and pressure within different parts of your house. While they can be fixed in the same way as vertical cracks, this is seen as more of a temporary solution for diagonal cracks. The imbalance will still remain. If you’d like to remove it for good, you might have to hire a contractor to come in and fix it; a major fix such as this one should be avoided, if possible when deciding upon whether or not to purchase the property; it could highlight poor overall building quality across the property.
Horizontal cracks.
Horizontal cracks are by the far the most dangerous of the bunch. They are indication of highly serious structural issues. Horizontal cracks are often a result of the ground force of the property straining on the basement, causing it to bow inwards. Do not attempt to fix these sorts of cracks without the oversight of a professional. Contactors are needed on this one. Once again, major infrastructure damage like this should be avoided.
Major vs Routine Repairs
Throughout this article we’ve been frequently using the terms “routine” and major” to describe types of repairs that might need to be carried out on a building. But what exactly is the difference?
Well, there’s no textbook definition, so to speak, but a good determining factor would be whether or not it requires professional oversight. If you would need to call in a tradesman, contractor or company to fix your problem, or that problem may require you spending into the hundreds (possibly thousands), then that would be described as a major issue.
We hope that this article was useful! Let’s Begin your HOME JOURNEY! Beware of all the red flags we mentioned in this article!
Article courtesy of : Lukelovesfilm
