If you’re in the market to buy a new home, it’s crucial that you take the time to ensure you’re buying the best piece of property that you can afford. As part of this, you’ll want to do thorough inspections of every property that you’re considering, as the last thing you want to do is buy a home that has more issues than you were aware of when placing your offer.
Some of the biggest issues you should keep your eye out for are any problems with the home’s foundation. In many instances, these types of problems can be very unsafe and very expensive to fix.
So to help ensure that you don’t overlook any red flags, here are three signs that a home may have issues with the foundation.
Doors And Windows Won’t Stay Open Or Closed
When a home’s foundation isn’t as stable as it should be, it’s easy for everything that holds up or is part of the home to get knocked off balance. This includes things like the windows and doors throughout the house.
According to Glenda Taylor, a contributor to BobVila.com, if you notice that the doors in the home you’re looking at either won’t stay open or closed, this could be a sign that the foundation has shifted and knocked the doors out of proper alignment. Additionally, if you try to open the windows of the home and they either won’t open entirely or are very sticky, that could also be a sign that things aren’t lined up as they should be due to the home settling or shifting on its foundation.
The Floors Are Slanted
Another sign that there might be issues with the foundation of a home you’re considering buying is if you notice that the floors are slanted.
When the foundation of a home has moved, it will often cause bumps, cracks, or slants in the flooring. To see if this is happening in the homes you’re looking at, HomeAdvisor.com shares that you can either bring a marble and see if it starts to roll on apparently flat ground or you can take a look around the exterior of the home to see if there’s any pooling water.
You Can See Cracks
One of the easiest ways to tell if a home’s foundation is failing is if you see visible cracks throughout the interior and exterior of the home.
According to SFGate.com, you should particularly be on the lookout for cracks where the walls meet the ceiling or floors. Additionally, cracks in any brickwork are a bad sign as well.
If you’re wanting to ensure that the home you’re considering buying doesn’t major foundational issues, make sure you keep your eyes out for the signs mentioned above.
Grants, New Mexico
