9 Structural Red Flags

9 Structural Red Flags:

No home is perfect. Home buyers must understand what's normal and what's not, says H. Alan Mooney, president of Criterium Engineers (www.criterium-engineers.com), a consulting engineering firm that specializes in building inspections. "Most foundations have cracks, and 90% are normal," he says.

Foundation Cracks - Ridges or lateral movement indicate a change in a surface that could be cause for concern. Find out why the change occured to get the problem solved properly. A foundation wall could be inadequate, or too much water may have accumulated outside.

Load-bearing Walls removed - This problem will be tough to spot unless the change caused ceilings to sag, ceilings or walls to crack, and floors to become springy. A history of a home's renovation work may indicate that walls or columns were removed that should have been left.

Faulty or insufficient wiring - Again, this won't be easy to spot. Have buyer clients ask whether wiring in older homes was updated and whether wiring in new homes can handle all tech needs.

Water, Water everywhere - Stains may indicate prior water problems, but so can surfaces recently painted to camouflage past problems. Be wary when home owners say they've corrected past problems; that doesn't guarantee new problems won't happen, says Mooney.

Leaky roofs - Even a new roof won't guarantee that a problem was totally resolved. "An owner may have added another layer of shingles on top of an existing leaky roof. The problem may also be due to inferior flashing," Mooney says. Buyers should ask how a problem was fixed and who did the work.

Ineffective Windows - Windows that can't be opened and closed, and those that fog up because they leak and aren't energy-efficient are red flags. New windows aren't necessarily a cure-all. "Poor window installation in a new construction represents a major epidemic," Mooney says.

Damp Facades - Stains on wood siding may reveal moisture behind; cracks around bricks may indicate missing mortar. Know that hairline cracks around bricks may be OK.

Pesky Pests - Termites and carpenter ants leave few signs except mud tubes and sawdust. Best rule: Quiz owners about prior pests and what they did to cure problems.

Rot - Wood that's not treated is often vulnerable to moisture and fungal growth. Red flags are decay that appears brown and crumbly, breaks into cubes, or is soft. Pay attention to wood that touches dirt, since it's more susceptible to moisture and decay. Watch masonry or joints that are slow to dry.

If your clients are required to make repairs before a closing, advise them to get three recommendations and bids before proceeding. If work was previously done, tell buyer clients to check permits to ensure the work was performed in compliance with local regulations.

Article taken from Realtor Magazine.