A home inspection is a great way to find out what you need to do before buying a house. It can also be an opportunity for some major savings, as many sellers will offer the buyer up to $500 in credit if they allow the seller to fix any issues that come up during their inspection. However, not all home inspections are created equal and there may be red flags that indicate serious problems with your potential new home. This blog post discusses those red flags and what you should do now.

Code Violation

Every home has various building code infractions since codes are updated regularly. Because building regulations are updated every few years, this is true for all existing properties. Building code enforcement only applies to buildings that exceed cosmetic upgrades or new construction or renovation projects that exceed basic renovations.

Structural Deficiency

This is includes anything from damage to the foundation to a repair not done using the best practice methods. This is most likely to be found with older homes or otherwise established properties due to weather damage or other conditions that are outside of the homeowner’s control, but it can also occur in new builds if they were not constructed according to code specifications.

Lack of Maintenance

Your potential new home or property inspection report needs to include any lack of maintenance issues so you know what you’d have on your hands when moving into a property. That way you’ll have time to fix them before putting down roots there instead of being surprised by neglectful previous owners after signing over the deeds.

Safety Hazards

This is any condition that can cause harm to you or other people in the house. It can include missing smoke detectors, uneven walking surfaces, exposed electrical wiring, or anything else that could cause you physical harm.

Missing Systems/Fixtures

These are items required by local building codes to be installed in homes but were never actually put into place during the construction process. This can range from missing insulation and ventilation to structural systems like a foundation or retaining wall.

When you buy a home, it’s not always possible to know everything about the property. That’s why your home inspection is so helpful! You get an unbiased view of what may be lurking behind every wall and under every rug. We hope this blog has been informative for you as we have shared some red flags that should raise concern if they show up in your future inspections.