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If you're purchasing a home, there are three main things you should look for:
1. Foundation issues. If you're walking around the house and you see large cracks in the wall, the foundation may have issues that you need to repair. Common signs of foundation issues include cracks or crumbling, water damage, shifting soil, sagging floors, buckling walls, or doors and windows that don't fit properly. Cracks in concrete floor slabs like the garage floor are rarely a structural defect. Shrinkage of concrete as it cures or the settling of the ground beneath the slab contribute to cracks opening up in the slab. The cracks, however, are not defined as a structural issue unless they have an opening of 1/8th inch or more across or it has differential, which is where one side of the crack is raised above the other.
2. Systems of the house like the water heater, furnace, air conditioning, etc. They may all look old, but you should know that they only represent a marginal percentage of the overall cost of the house. Replacing a water heater, for example, will only cost about $800 to $1,200, which is by no means a reason not to buy a house.
3. Permitting. Remodels, major repairs, or major upgrades will all require some sort of permit from the local municipality. Most of these permits are readily available through an online search, or you can call the building department.
Most permits are readily available online.
If you'd like any more information about things to look out for when buying a home, feel free to reach out to us. I'd love to help you in any way that I can!
