“The Nest at its Best” is a column written by our area expert & Realtor, Amanda Rickman. This column features helpful home tips, some DIY tutorials, and interesting info about the area! So whether you are looking to sell your home, moving, or just trying to make your home a home, this is surely a column you’ll want to follow!
It’s always good to be able to recognize when a home may have some problems whether it’s your own or you are out house hunting. Nobody wants a money pit, right? Here are a few signs or red flags that you may have a problem now or in the future:
1. Foundation
– Visible exterior cracks
– Cracks/uneven driveway or sidewalks
– Drainage not pointed away from the house
– Yard slopes towards the house
– Large trees with roots close to foundation
– Cracks in walls (some can be normal from settling)
– Floors visibly not level
– Window not square
– Wall corners not square
– Gaps on top of interior doors
– Doors jam
2. Water/mold
– Bowed roof
– Water stains on walls
– Cracks around windows
– Visible mold
– Musty smell
– Missing caulking on tile in shower/bath
– No bathroom ventilation
– Wood rot around exterior doors and trim
– Peeling paint
– Leaking faucets or toilets
3. Electrical
– Exposed wires
– Wires with electrical tape
– Warm outlets
– Flickering lights
– Main panel is rusty/damaged
4. Roof
– Warped shingles
– Loss of granulation
– Cracked tiles (terra cotta)
– Missing sections
– Mismatched sections
– Ceiling stains
5. Plumbing
– Water stains under sinks
– Stains around toilet
– Poor water pressure
– Screeching when turned on and off
– Drains empty slowly
– Foul odor from sinks
All in all….. Maybe there aren’t for sure problems, but you always want to make yourself aware of things that could be red flags to save you money in the future!