Various repairs that are expensive to do

Homes for sale in need of repair may be seen as an attractive feature for some home buyers. Homebuyers who aren’t afraid to do their own repair work know that such homes are less expensive than comparable move-in-ready homes, and buyers can use the money saved to make repairs to suit their personal tastes. However, there is a difference between a house that needs to replace a few fixtures and a house that needs to refinish the entire roof.

Here is a list of repairs that can be more expensive for homebuyers, so you will be more knowledgeable when doing your real estate search:

Subfloor repairs

This can certainly be a problem in older or damaged homes, and can be an expensive repair. When you put a glass of water on the ground, does the water splash out when you walk a few feet away? If you put a level on the ground, is the floor level? Uneven floors and unstable ground floors may mean that the house needs to be rebuilt. It is difficult for a homebuyer to see the condition of stumps inside the home’s crawl space during a showing, as they must be kept out of sight. During a home inspection, inspectors can check subfloors to make sure stumps have been built correctly. In houses in poor condition, there have been cases where wooden struts have been used to stabilize the floor above or stumps have eroded due to water damage or pest problems.

pests and bugs

Termite damage can be one of the most expensive things to repair, and most people selling a home with termite damage will sell a home as-is before attempting to repair it. To try to help sell the house, people will put up furniture to try and hide some of the damaged areas from being seen by the prospective buyer. Perhaps they jam or block the door that leads to the attic or basement. Maybe the salesperson will block off an entire room and tell you that you can’t get in there for some reason that’s been made up. The good news is that in the US it is mandatory, in most areas, that the person selling the house must disclose this information to someone looking to buy.

plumbing problems

This is another hidden problem that a buyer can overlook. Older houses may have rusty pipes or the water pressure may be too low, and only a licensed plumber knows how to fix these problems. However, a cautious homebuyer can do a little test by running multiple faucets at once to check if the water pressure is low in any area of ​​the home. Also, checking each faucet lets you know if there may be a pipe leak or pipe erosion if the water coming out is discolored in any way.

moisture intrusion

If you have mold growth or damp walls, these are major problems and should be avoided. Building materials like stone or brick are porous and can sometimes hide moisture in them, which becomes a breeding ground for mold and mildew. Be on the lookout for any type of water or flood damage that you can see on the walls when you are looking at any house.

Do a home inspection

In the end, if you’re serious about buying a home that’s being sold as-is, then you’ll want to pay to have a home inspection done. A licensed home inspector will be able to check the things you can’t or don’t know about in the home and give you the kind of cost you would incur to fix everything correctly. Don’t get caught buying a home only to find out that it has the added cost of repairs that turns your dream home into a nightmare.