But every buyer should be part of the 56% who can say \u201cI love my house,\u201d period\u2026 no ifs, ands, or buts about it. We recommend that you start with a healthy dose of skepticism and this universal list (featuring stories from real buyers) of what to look for when buying a house. Spoiler: you won\u2019t find rainbows and unicorns justifying your dream home purchase. We\u2019re here to give you the nitty gritty.<\/p>\n As you tour homes, observe the condition of the walls and ceilings of every room you enter. If you spot discoloration or mysterious stains on any surfaces, you can\u2019t assume it\u2019s an architectural birthmark or \u201cquirk\u201d of the house. In reality, you could be looking at serious signs of current or past water damage<\/a>.<\/p>\n Considering that water can damage your furniture and appliances, cause wood rot, and increase the risk of mold growth<\/a>, good ol\u2019 H20 is absolutely a home\u2019s public enemy no. 1. And it\u2019s more common than you\u2019d think: 37% of homeowners<\/a> have suffered losses due to water damage<\/a>, while 98% of basements deal with water issues at some point (so you\u2019d better pay special attention to the lower levels).<\/p>\n Next steps: Water damage comes in lots of different forms\u2014having it in the house isn\u2019t necessarily a dealbreaker, but the more you know coming in<\/a>, the less risk you\u2019ll take on.<\/p>\n The home inspector<\/a> can give you a better idea of the extent of the damage and might be able to ballpark the cost of repairs. With a copy of the home inspection report<\/a> in hand, contact an experienced water-damage contractor for a better estimate of repairs if necessary.<\/p>\n From there, work with your agent to decide whether to:<\/p>\n True story: \u201cAt that time, we were emotionally invested and felt a little bit of FOMO,\u201d Thich says. \u201cNowadays, our city has been raining more often than ever, so water comes in especially during the heavy rain period. It’s annoying that we need to look for a professional to remedy the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n Had Thich addressed the damage upfront, she might\u2019ve been able to make a lower offer, or at least addressed the leak before it damaged her home further.<\/p>\n You can tell if a pipe in a house is corroded if it\u2019s turned bluish green (copper pipes) or reddish brown (steel pipes)<\/a>. Corroded pipes are not only a sign of aged plumbing, but old pipes also lead to leaks and can damage a home\u2019s structure. In any home visit, you should check the following for signs of plumbing problems:<\/p>\n Next steps: True story:<\/b> \u201cThe sewer line was backing up because the toilets were getting flushed way more than they had been for the previous 20 years,\u201d MacEvilly explains. He was able to unblock the line for $400, but the replacement line came weeks later to the tune of a $15,000 bill.<\/p>\n Some homes are more likely to flood than others based on the topography and proximity to a body of water. Restoring a house flooded with just one inch of storm water can cost over $27,000<\/a>, according to FEMA.gov, so it\u2019s smart to know whether your home is flood-prone before you buy.<\/p>\n Next steps: If the home is situated near a creek or pond or area with a lot of rain historically, ask questions about the home\u2019s past history of flooding or water intrusion to be on the safe side.<\/p>\n True story: If a home you\u2019re considering has a roof that\u2019s more than 25 years old; or shows signs of loose shingles, cracks or algae growth, it warrants further investigation\u2014considering a new roof can cost between $3,000 and $12,000<\/a> and you\u2019re kind of counting on it to keep you warm and dry.<\/p>\n Next steps: True story: Even if it\u2019s warm outside and you can\u2019t notice whether a home\u2019s windows are drafty, check the condition of the window caulking or other red flags<\/a> that a home\u2019s windows are in poor condition, like decay or wood rot around the frame, or foggy glass.<\/p>\n Next steps: True story: \u201cThe drafts would have been difficult to assess when it was warmer out but the general quality of the windows is something buyers should check out before submitting an offer,\u201d McGarth suggests. \u201cI ended up replacing the windows at $3,000\/each and would still have made the purchase, but that’s a home improvement that buyers don’t often notice and can save you a lot of money if you do.\u201d<\/p>\n The time of day you visit a property can dramatically change your opinion of the lot and the surrounding area. A slow Saturday afternoon may look different than the bumper-to-bumper traffic of Thursday rush hour. Make sure you know everything about a home\u2019s location before you take the plunge. You can always change outdated floors; you can\u2019t so easily pick up a house and move it from point A to B<\/a> for quieter sleeping.<\/p>\n Next steps: True story: Google named ranch-style homes the most popular style of summer 2019<\/a>, signaling the single-level lifestyle is back in a big way. Running stairs might be great cardio, but a home with too many levels can be a burden long-term, especially if you have plans to age in place<\/a>.<\/p>\n Next steps: True story: When you think of what to look for when buying a house, images of great curb appeal, amazing views, and beautiful wood floors fill your mind. But if you can stay focused and make it through the boring stuff\u2014and ask all the right questions with the help of your agent\u2014you’ll move forward to the fun part with the great peace of mind that you looked under the hood of the car before you drove off the parking lot.<\/p>\n Header Image Source: (Marcus Lenk\/ Unsplash)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Start your house hunt with this helpful list (featuring stories from real buyers, and a healthy dose of skepticism) of what to look for when buying a house.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":99,"featured_media":12849,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[192,638,639],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12806","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-for-buyers","category-house-hunting","category-homes-online"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/what-to-look-for-when-buying-a-house-wall.jpg\")
<\/a>1. Wall stains: Is that…water damage?<\/h2>\n
\n<\/b>Ask your top local real estate agent<\/a> to investigate the stain and scan the seller\u2019s disclosure form<\/a> to see if the owners mentioned the issue anywhere.<\/p>\n\n
\n<\/b>Ling Thich and her husband purchased their home in Toronto during a real estate boom in 2014. She noticed a few water stains in the basement and ended up overlooking the seller\u2019s mention\u00a0 of a minor leak in favor of staying competitive.<\/p>\n2. Corroded or leaky pipes<\/h2>\n
\n
\nTake a minute to flush each toilet<\/a> in the home to make sure it properly drains and refills. Take note of slow or running toilets post-flush.<\/li>\n
\nTest out the water pressure in each shower<\/a>\u2014if it\u2019s low while just running a single fixture, you\u2019ll get a better idea of pressure across the home. Then, wait to watch the shower drain. If it\u2019s slow, the home could have backed up pipes.<\/li>\n
\nAny rust or damp spots around the heater could signal issues with the system.<\/li>\n
\nPeek under sinks<\/a> and around toilets and water fixtures for visible problems with a home\u2019s plumbing. Red flags include corrosion as noted above, as well as discoloration or soft spots on cabinet floors and walls, which could indicate pipe leaks or structural rot.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\n<\/b>A home inspector will perform a visual inspection of a home\u2019s plumbing systems. However, if your heart\u2019s set on a property with older plumbing, a professional plumbing inspection<\/a> or sewer inspection<\/a> calls for a specially trained eye and can pinpoint any issues via diagnostic camera, giving you an idea of how old your home\u2019s pipes are and how likely you are to face plumbing issues down the line. Experts recommend sewer inspections for homes that are 20 or more years old<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nSeattle resident Conor MacEvilly regrets the decision to forgo a plumbing inspection for his 1932 Seattle home. Two months after he bought it, his basement flooded during a holiday party.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/what-to-look-for-when-buying-a-house-home.jpg\")
<\/a>3. Flood plain pains<\/h2>\n
\n<\/b>Keep an eye out for water stains in the basements or lower levels of the home, and check FEMA\u2019s Flood Map Service Center<\/a> to discover a home\u2019s flood risk. According to FEMA, 13 million homeowners live in the high risk 100-year flood plain<\/a>, which means they face a 1% chance of flooding during any given year. Under federal law<\/a>, people with homes in high-risk areas with mortgages from federally insured or regulated lenders (this includes most nationally known financial institutions<\/a>) must have flood insurance, so that\u2019s an extra complication in the mortgage process.<\/p>\n
\n<\/b>Brett Elron loves the home he purchased in 2015 just two hours north of New York City, but he\u2019s discouraged friends and family from taking a look at the property just down the block from him because of its proximity to a flood plain. \u201cDuring every heavy rain, the owners would have to worry about controlling the flooding so it doesn’t flow directly into their foundation or somewhere where it will further damage their home.\u201d<\/p>\n4. Raggedy roof<\/h2>\n
\n<\/b>If you\u2019re not confident in the roof\u2019s condition, ask the sellers to provide a roof certification, which is essentially a warranty<\/a> that guarantees the roof will last a certain number of years (usually between two and five years). If an inspector finds the roof is truly on its last legs, the seller will have to make repairs to receive the certification.<\/p>\n
\n<\/b>Speaking from personal experience, Elron urges his friends to \u201cconsider hiring a company to use a drone to gather camera footage of the roof, to help get a full picture.\u201d Technology like drones and camera extensions has made this in-depth inspection more affordable. On average, a close look at the roof will cost $205<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/what-to-look-for-when-buying-a-house-window.jpg\")
<\/a>5. Cheap, drafty windows<\/h2>\n
\n<\/b>Ask how old the windows are\u2014if they\u2019re more than 15-20 years old, or you note visible damage or wear and tear, it\u2019s worth a closer inspection. Depending on the window quality and condition, you\u2019ll want to consider negotiating a repair credit or price reduction for window replacement.<\/p>\n
\n<\/b>New Yorker James McGrath bought his first home in the summer, but when winter arrived his low-quality windows made his home frigid, leading to high heating bills and frustration.<\/p>\n6. Road noise and busy corner lots<\/h2>\n
\n<\/b>Visit the area during different times of the day and night to fully understand the location. Walk around the blocks close to your home; does it feel welcoming?<\/p>\n
\n<\/b>\u201cI purchased a home in an area with lots of freeway noise but didn\u2019t notice this until my final walkthrough,\u201d shares Sacramento loan originator Matthew Yu. \u201cWhen I toured the property initially there was music and air conditioning that muffled the sound.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Stairs](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/what-to-look-for-when-buying-a-house-stairs.jpg\")
<\/a>7. Multiple sets of stairs<\/h2>\n
\n<\/b>While on the property, move from the top to bottom floor a few times. Now imagine carrying a clothes basket between levels. If you\u2019re already annoyed or tired out, it might be time to walk away.<\/p>\n
\n<\/b>Crystal North started to regret the townhouse her family moved into in Illinois after the first laundry day: \u201cThis home has two flights of stairs. I have to carry laundry from our bedrooms on the top floor down two flights of stairs to the basement. We have a toddler and a dog, so there are also baby gates to step over,\u201d North says.<\/p>\nWhat to look for when buying a house: Now\u2019s your chance to be rigorous<\/h3>\n