Whether you’re buying a property for investment or for your own stay, being able to identify early signs of home defects is important. Many a time, homeowners take for granted that there’s nothing wrong with their homes because it doesn’t “seem” like anything is wrong. However, if you have some basic understanding of home defects, you’ll be able to tell that your home needs to be inspected by a professional right away.
Here are some tell-tale signs that your home needs to be looked over by a professional:
Signs of water damage
Mould, stains, watermarks and damp smells are giveaways for water damage problems in your property. While the common places to check for water damage in your home is the kitchen and the toilets, it’s still important to give every corner of your house a thorough check.
Besides checking on your walls, it’s also important to open up all your cabinets and have a good look in them. Additionally, checking for rust and leaks at the gutters will also give you an idea of whether your home is suffering from these defects.
Water damage in its early stages is hard to spot as pipes are hidden in walls and signs of leakage only become more obvious over time. If you’re unsure, always seek professional opinion.
Checking for uneven floors and ceilings
Uneven floors and ceilings tend to be more apparent in older homes, however, that does not mean that newly built units are free from this problem. Unevenness can be caused by multiple factors — lack of care from the previous owner or perhaps poor workmanship from construction builders. Whatever the reason, it’s important to identify unevenness in your home quickly and get it fixed.
Besides giving your home a look over, you can check your home for unevenness by shining a torchlight on your homes’ ceilings and floors. If there are signs of unusual shadows or deflections, it could indicate that your ceilings and floors are uneven.
Ensure plumbing system works
A faulty plumbing system can lead to leaks and water damages. Usually, water damage is correlated with a problematic plumbing system. Faulty faucets are one of the most common problems and it can waste large amounts of water if you don’t get it fixed. Checking that your faucets in your kitchen and toilets are in good working condition should be done every so often as these problems may occur any time.
Besides your faucets, it’s also important to check that your sewers are in good condition. Strange smells coming from your sewers could mean that you have a potential plumbing situation on your hands. This could be the result of clogged sewers or poor construction work. For starters regularly make sure your sewers are unclogged and see if the problem persists. If it does, contact a professional home inspector to get an opinion.
Know your home’s history
One of the best ways to spot potential home defects quickly is to make sure you have a clear understanding of the property’s history. Did the previous owner make major renovations to the house? Was there a persistent home defect that the previous owner simply couldn’t get rid of? Ex homeowners may not be forthcoming with the defects in their property, however, it’s important for you, the new homeowner, to know about all the underlying issues and what to expect.
Having some basic understanding of home defects can definitely benefit owners. You’ll spot early signs of damage early on and get these problems fixed quickly. However, before you start to bring in renovators, it’s important to get an experienced home inspector to give you a professional opinion. Some home defects are not immediately visible to the untrained eye and it’s vital to give your home a thorough look-through before renovations.
Seek professional assistance
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