When it’s time to buy a home there are always high expectations, buyers come to feel a lot of relief when they see the home of their dreams in front of their eyes. Although it can also happen that from one moment to another something may cause a headcache that makes you run at the time of a property inspection. And it should be extremely important to be alert to these warning signs when buying a home.
For many real independent sellers the important thing is to close the deal without giving importance to these details. This is where you, as an interested party, should always go one step further. So for this reason it is advisable to be reviewing each sector of the property; and report if necessary, any concern or new proposal that is had. Here are some warning signs to run before buying a home.
Poorly made walls
It never hurts to check as many times as necessary, the walls are always an important element of any property. Think for a moment that a poorly made or very neglected wall is already a danger for those who live in it, and if you are the one who takes over the property it is a very big risk for your family as well. It is very common to see fine cracks in concrete blocks; These cracks are not dangerous but can increase over time.
Jagged, stepped, and 45 degree angle cracks are usually structural movement or settlement cracks and are usually harmless. If those cracks were large, there may be a shortage of rebar in the walls. Cracked beams and columns are a much more serious problem. These last two are serious warning signs when buying a home. The recommendation is to take care of covering these cracks as soon as possible, and reinforce all the structures so that the house does not have any danger.
Roof problems
A roof in poor condition implies a very large expense; and until you climb on or from below you can see its real condition. They exist of all the materials, of tile, of zinc, metal, stone, among others.
However, there are some warning signs that you can detect on your own when inspecting the roof, for example, many houses have wooden trusses for roof support, this attracts termites; if you find termites on floors and furniture, there is a big problem to fix. Or you can also look for moisture stains if your ceilings are Gypsum, if you find multiple stains, start running. In the canoes you must make sure that they are well painted, if you can see holes or rust spots in these, it is also time to run.
Electrical and plumbing problems
In Costa Rica there are very few areas with public sewerage systems; particularly, it is always the neighborhoods that have it. Some areas in the country have large power fluctuations and power outages, which could damage electrical appliances.
The recommendations in this case are the following:
- Check the breaker box: Check that each breaker is well identified and that there are more than 6, if so, it is probably in good condition. Older houses have only one or two breakers for electrical outlets.
- Make sure all lights are off and no appliances are running. Next, check the power meter to see if there is still power output.
- Flush all the toilets in the house and see if the water flows fast enough. If this is not the case (either slow flowing or gurgling) there is probably a septic problem. This is solved with a simple toilet of the septic tank.
- Ask where the septic tank is located, if it smells bad, run to fix it.
Always be one step ahead, if you choose a home it should be as safe as possible for you and your whole family. Do not hesitate to contact trusted professionals to guide you and recommend what you can do to solve any of these problems (if they occur). If you follow this to the letter, you will save yourself a lot of abuse or even unnecessary waste of time, just look for the comfort you want most in your home.
