Hidden Home Defects to Watch For

No home is flawless, but certain physical problems can be expensive. Watch for:

• Water leaks. Look for stains on ceilings and near the baseboards, especially in basements or attics.
   
• Shifting foundations. Look for large cracks along the home’s foundation.
   
• Drainage. Look for standing water, either around the foundation of the home of in the yard.
   
• Termites. Look for weakened or grooved wood, especially near ground level.
   
• Worn roofs. Look for broken or missing copings and buckled shingles as well as water spots on ceilings.
   
• Inadequate wiring. Look for antiquated fuse boxes, extension cords (indicating insufficient outlets), and outlets without a place to plug in the grounding prong.
   
• Plumbing problems. Very low water pressure, banging in pipes.

Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine Online by permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.         www.REALTOR.org/realtormag