It is all too easy to see that ‘for sale’ sign on the lawn of a beautiful home and fall in love. You may have been saving for years, waiting for your dream home to come along—or perhaps you already own another primary home or a piece of land that you are building equity in. Plans of all sorts can come to a screeching halt though when you see that seemingly perfect home, and perhaps completely out of the blue. You may feel like you would move heaven and earth to see yourself living in such a place—and probably want to get there as soon as possible—but first, dig as deeply as possible to make sure your investment is a sound one. To avoid purchasing a home with defects, you will need qualified help, and should be ready to ask a lot of questions.
Choose Your Own Home Inspector
While a home inspection was most likely performed upon completion of the home, there are many defects that can go unnoticed, and sometimes for years. If you are interested in purchasing an older home, then there are numerous issues you will want to watch for. With a bit of education regarding defects more common to California, hopefully you will have a better chance to steer clear of major problems. It’s important to hire a home inspector of your choosing (as opposed to someone on the payroll of the realty company you may be buying from), and someone who you feel like you will have a good rapport with so that you can voice any concerns as well as even accompanying them during the inspection—should you feel the need.
Look For & Ask About Any Water Intrusion Issues
Most of the construction defects you want to avoid could happen in any home, with leaks often pointing to major problems with plumbing systems, roofing systems, and major components like windows and doors. Leaks and moisture can be even more of a problem in California though due to a rainy season that is often intense and can both uncover and cause problems. While a home inspector should check all the systems and parts of a home thoroughly, you may also want to inquire about any previous problems with water intrusion, consequences such as mold growing in the attic, or any related issues. Ventilation for the home should be thoroughly inspected as well, since again, moisture can lead to major problems. The attic, kitchens, and bathrooms should all be properly ventilated as they are the areas where moisture tends to collect and then cause problems.
The electrical system for the home should be running smoothly, along with all the appliances. The plumbing system should be in good order without leaks under any of the sinks, problems with toilets flushing, or other issues. The roof should be in good order too, and this is an area you will want to ask many questions about, such as its age, previous repairs or replacements, or current problems that tend only to show themselves during precipitation.
Investigate Any Red Flags Regarding Structural & Foundation Defects
Structural issues and problems with the foundation are also a major area to investigate, as shifting soil can be such a problem in California. The hope is that the initial contractor asked for a thorough soil analysis, and used it to prepare for any complications due to soil expansion, earthquakes, landslides, or more. While a soil analysis is usually required for a building permit, close attention must be paid to the advice of the soil engineer, and they should likely be consulted throughout the building project to avoid potential problems. If you have concerns about the foundation, speak to the home inspector, who should already be making note of any cracks or signs pointing to instability. Also, if you notice that windows or doors do not seem to open and close properly, this can be an obvious sign that the home has been shifting.
While you should be concerned about finding any defects, it is not up to you and the home inspector to do all the detective work. The seller of the home, in the best-case scenario, should be transparent about any issues and is required to fill out a disclosure form regarding any current problems or defects—including information about whether the home has ever been damaged due to an earthquake, landslide, fire, or other type of disaster. Gather as much information as possible, keeping in mind that while you should have a strong focus on the exterior and interior of the home, it is important to know the history of the home as well—including how many times it has been bought and sold.
Call Us For Help
If you have questions about a current real-estate project or are concerned about a dispute, contact the law office of Shane Coons. With experience in a wide range of legal areas to include commercial leases and purchases, residential purchases, property damage, unlawful detainer, liens, wrongful foreclosures, and more, we can review your case and then help you examine your options.
We are here to help! Call now at 949-333-0900 or email us at Shane.Coons@seclawoffices.com.