Skip to main content

Warning Signs That Your New House Might Be A Money Pit


 

1. Moldy smells..Mold is everywhere, but when water leaks occur, mold can become a serious problem.  Mold can be present in crawl spaces and can cycle to dormant during dry periods and come back during high humidity and warmer months.  Sometimes sellers will surface clean an area thinking they have removed the mold, but often mold is hidden and will come back when moisture is re-introduced.

2. Burning smells…Some burning smells are harmless, but others can be electrical problems. 

3. Water stains, rust and damaged finishes. You may have plumbing, roof or basement issues that need to be addressed soon before more damage occurs.

4. Gutters missing or spilling…We live in a “temperate rainforest”. Needless to say, water control is vital to the longevity of any house in our area. Failure to keep a home high and dry can result in a host of water related problems.

5. Strange sewer smells in the yard…Septic failure can happen anytime.  You should always ask the owner when the septic tank was last pumped.  Pumping frequency varies based on system size and occupant load, but in general, no system should go more than 8 years without being pumped.

6. Sloping floors, sticky doors and loose trim.  Cracks aren’t the only sign of foundation problems and cracks can also be signs of frame movement related to frame design. 

7. Rodent droppings and insect bodies. Some insects are nuisance type and some are detrimental to the structure of the house.  Rodent activity indicated by droppings can be challenging to eliminate.

8. Wobbly or loose toilets… Wobbly or loose toilets start as loose connections. Loose connections lead to leaks.  Leaks can cause damage to subfloor and finishes, and if left unattended, can lead to significant floor rot.

9. Cracks in the foundation. This can indicate structural movement that has occurred in the past and can indicate continuing issues.

 

To find out more about us please go to https://accuspecinspections.com/meet-the-team

To Book a Home Inspection in East Tennessee including Knoxville, Sevierville, Dandridge, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Newport, or Maryville, please go to accuspecinspections.com 


Please book with us to provide a comprehensive inspection of your new home before you buy so we can help you “avoid the money pit”.  


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I Live In Knoxville; Do I Need A Radon Test? October 22nd, 2007 Question:I heard that Knoxville has high levels of radon gas. Is that true? And what is radon gas and how do I know if it’s in our home? Answer:It’s true that Knoxville does have high levels of Radon. In fact, Knoxville and most of East Tennessee is in either a Zone 1 or Zone 2 which are the highest probability areas for Indoor Radon. See Radon Probability Map at http://www.epa.gov/radon/zonemap.html . Radon gas is produced from a breakdown of uranium in the soil under your home. Radon gas is odorless, colorless and tasteless. The Surgeon General of the United States has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. Approximately 24,000 people die each year from exposure to Radon. I would not live in a home in Knoxville without having a radon test conducted. The only way to know if you have elevated Radon levels in your home is to have a Radon test. Please see our website a...
Post a Comment
Read more

How To Stop Squirrels from Chewing a Log Home

My wife and I live in a log home we built in Eastern Tennessee 20 years ago.  About 8 years ago, I noticed chew marks on the outside corners of my log ends and wandered what animal was doing it and why?  My dog was much too old and not aggressive enough to chase squirrels.  Then, one day I heard something chewing on the back deck, looked out, and to my surprise it was a squirrel!  Being a Builder, Home Inspector and Building Inspector in the log home mecca of Sevier County, TN; and just having a nerdy interested in such things, I did some research, asked around, and compiled a strategy to deal with the problem. I like natural solutions that deal with these type problems because I do not want to harm the environment.  I live here too!  One pest control operator I spoke with said the squirrels are chewing to get at the salt in the wood.  (This makes sense because I used a borate solution on my logs prior to staining to deter wood boring insects....
Post a Comment
Read more

First Time Home Buyer Home Inspection Mistakes

  We have seen first time home buyers make some critical errors in regard to the home inspection process that can cost them money and aggravation. We offer the following advice as a guide to help you avoid those mistakes.   1- Not Having a Home Inspection: Some people do this to keep from spending 100s of dollars, but end up potentially costing themselves 1000s   It makes no sense.   2-Allowing the Seller to do repairs on Home Inspection findings.   The Seller has an incentive to use the lowest bidder to do repairs; or worse, do the repairs themselves.   In this case, the warranty on the work may not transfer to the new owner after the closing happens, then you are stuck with inferior work and little recourse.   Sometimes Real Estate Agents will ask Us to inspect after the repairs are completed by a Seller.   We don't recommend this as most of the time, we end up having to throw off on the repair, costing the buyer additional money; and ma...
Post a Comment
Read more