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Greenbrae, California

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Buyer Beware!

Posted at Helpful Tips by Marty Bautista

Jun. 16, 2008

Tagged with: identify potential problems

Buying a home can be a challenging experience. The emotional rollercoaster is not an uncommon experience. Some sellers and listing agents are quite good at staging a home to peak the emotions of many buyers. So what can a buyer do to identify potential problems when touring a home? Below are some helpful tips on things to be concerned with. Ask questions. Your CRS Specialist will be glad to assist in finding the answers.

· Mediocre Maintenance. Three layers of roofing and gutters with plants growing out of them are signs that the owners have not kept up with the property. What else have they neglected?

· Foundation Failures. If the yard slopes toward the house, it could cause water to run down the foundation walls or into the basement or crawlspace, which could result in costly repairs. Also if foundation cracks or bulges are thicker than 1/3 inch, the house could have serious structural issues.

· Faulty Wiring. Make sure all switches and outlets function properly. Flickering lights, circuits that don’t work, receptacle without grounding prongs and warm or hot outlets or faceplates are all symptoms of wiring problems.

· Fresh Paint …On One Wall. New paint can spruce up walls, but they can also hide bigger problems, such as water damage, mildew or mold.

· Foggy or Non-functioning Windows. Check for water in between double-paned windows and make sure all windows work properly.

· Structural Walls and Floors. The house may have an open floor plan, but was it always open or did the homeowners renovate? If a load-bearing wall was removed without adjusting the framing, it can shift weight to other parts of the house.

· Bugs. No one wants a house with a pest problem. Look for evidence of unwelcome creatures as you tour the home.

· Water Pressure. Check the water pressure at all of the faucets and fixtures. Low water output at some could indicate a partial sediment blockage in the pipes. This is quite common in older homes with galvanized piping.

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