Buying a home is a huge investment, and you want to make sure that you’re making a good one. While you could ask about the house’s history and see if it had any issues in the past, you want to make sure that you do some investigating yourself. If you find issues before you move in, you could ask the seller to pay for them. However, if you don’t find them until after you moved in, you might have a hard time proving that the previous homeowner failed to disclose them.

1. Water and Mold Issues

If you see discolored areas on the walls, there is a considerable likelihood that they have been damaged by water at some point. Additionally, if you see mold or mildew, even if you smell it, there is a water leak somewhere that needs to be addressed. If you see a section of the wall that has been newly painted but notice saggy walls or ceilings, that is a big indicator of water damage.

2. Foundation Problems

Different times of the year can present different foundation issues. You might look under a house in the summer and not see any standing water at all. However, if you look in the winter, you might see 6 inches of water hanging out. Because of that, you need to look for signs of water damage and other issues. Check the foundation support beams for signs of leaks and look for cracks. Any bulges or cracks larger than 1/3 inch should be fixed using a foundation repair service.

3. Electricity Troubles

It can be hard to diagnose some electrical issues because you can’t cut open walls to see the wires. You can, however, test light switches to make sure the lights turn on and off and test the outlets to verify they have power going to them. Now, you don’t have to bring your own lamp to check the outlets. You can buy an outlet tester at a home improvement store. Ensure that you check every outlet and don’t assume that the home inspector will do it.