What to Know About Water Damage and Buying a New Home

10/20/2020 (Permalink)

If you are in the process of buying a new house, congratulations! New home ownership can be extremely exciting. However, water damage is a prominent issue that many homes deal with. Before finalizing any payment or paperwork, alway be sure to have an inspection scheduled. An inspection for the following can you save your home and your wallet.

If the house had previous owners:

1. Ask if any damage has occurred to the home and where.

This includes whether there has been any  water, mold, storm, sewer, or fire damage.

2. Ask the extent of the damage and what was done to restore and mitigate future damage.

This question will save you a lot of money down the road.

3. Ask/Inspect for any other problem areas or structural integrity.

This should include looking for leaks, doors or windows not properly sealed, plumbing issues etc. These issues can lead to future emergency disasters.

If the house is brand new:

1. Check for any defects in the construction.

This is especially important around doors and windows to ensure they are properly sealed and will not allow any moisture in

2. Look at your roof and gutters.

Make sure these areas are able to properly shed water away off the roof and away from the home.

3. Look for potential flooding areas around the home.

Be aware of areas around your home, either part of the home’s construction or your actual land, that may flood during heavy storms.

Buying a home with damage can be off-putting and a hinderance. With water damage so prominent and often leading to mold, hiring a professional inspector is the best route.  With A professional home inspection will always provide an accurate report of any past water damage and its extent or potential areas that may cause future water damage.