4 Systems That Bring Home Values Down When Not Properly Maintained
There is nothing worse than buying a home and then shortly thereafter being hit with a huge repair bill. That is why some buyers offer an included home maintenance insurance contract. This may be a good idea when buying an older home but even they are often inconvenient to deal with. A perfect example is my daughter who purchased a home with a “warranty” and shortly thereafter her HVAC system stopped cooling. So she called the warranty company and they eventually sent out a repair person. Two weeks later it isn’t working again, so after another couple of weeks another repair person arrives and this goes on for a couple of months until eventually, they ended up making a major repair (after many threats from my son-in-law). The problem is the warrantee company hires the cheapest labor and only authorizes the minimum of repairs. If you were hiring the contractor you would look for quality workmanship and buyer satisfaction… but that is not their priority.
So to ensure that you don’t run into this type of problem when buying a home be sure that the following major systems are in good working condition. Generally, a good home inspection will flag these types of issues but be sure to look at these areas extra closely in the inspection report.
Plumbing
Selling a house with a toilet that does not flush properly or a sink that drail slowly when you wash your hands can be a problem. condensation on pipes can be red flags. A dripping faucet is a huge annoyance. But septic issues, leaky water heaters, and overflowing washing machines can cause additional problems like mold, soggy plaster, and warped floors which can be expensive to repair.
Electric
If the lights flicker it could indicate a variety of problems from a simple switch or outlet to frayed wires that could cause a fire. Old fixtures may need to be replaced. Inadequate circuit breakers can cause overloads and require extensive rewiring.
Heating and Cooling
One of the most important things to keep working well in your home is the furnace. HVAC systems are expensive items to replace. You do not want to buy a home to find out there are cold rooms or drafty areas. Or worse yet an HVAC system on its last legs (like my daughter had). Be sure to test both the heating and cooling aspects although it is difficult to tell in the cooling is working up to snuff unless it is actually hot outside.
Roofing and Foundation
A leaky roof will show up in many ways. From saggy ceilings to dark spots, visible drips, and wood rot. This can result in having to replace whole walls if the leak has been going on long enough.
The foundation is another item you will want to ensure is in proper resale shape. A thorough home inspection can give you information about any item. Maintenance upkeep can help you get more money for your home and a better choice of buyers. People will try to get by with an offer way too low or pass up your home if you do not keep the essential systems updated.
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