Biggest Red Flags During a Home Inspection

Foundation and Drainage

A buyer won’t know how to assess a building’s foundation, and that’s why it’s one of the most important aspects of an inspection. Your home inspector will look closely at any cracks and abnormalities in the foundation.

Easily-fixed foundation or drainage issues generally aren’t reasons to pass on a house, but  if there are piling issues in the foundation, that might be a safety problem, and safety issues are often non-starters.

As for drainage, houses should be mounted higher than the street level, so that there’s a pitch and the water drains properly. We also want to make sure the gutters are pitched correctly, so that water cascades away from the house.”  Sometimes the drain system can be clogged with roots and debris which can cause the property to flood during a rainstorm.

 Mold

Mold sounds scarier than it really is, and is normally associated with water damage, which is common in many houses or apartments. Mold may not be an unusual addition to an inspection report, and can often be remediated.

Failure to remove contaminated materials and to reduce moisture and humidity can present serious long-term health risks. Standing water and wet materials are a breeding ground for micro-organisms, such as viruses, bacteria and mold. For example, someone may have put a wet towel in a closet and it was up against the wall.  If that towel stays wet for a prolonged time, mold on the wall will start to form.  Once the towel is removed, the mold will die as it will no longer be “fed” to keep it alive.  A little water and bleach sprayed on the area will remove the black, dead mold.