Buying a House in West Knoxville, TN: Red Flags to Look For
Buying a house in West Knoxville is one of your greatest dreams, and the ad makes the house appear to be a bargain. The place looks lovely—but hold on. Before you rush into something you might regret, keep an eye out for potential red flags.
Before you get to closing a deal, here are five red flags you should be aware of.
5 Red Flags When Buying a House in West Knoxville, TN
1. Potential Foundation/Structural Problems
Foundation problems are among the most expensive repairs for a home. Correcting a foundation problem in a home can cost you thousands of dollars.
When buying a home, it’s important to pay attention to the foundation. Unfinished basements can make it relatively easy to see if the foundation has any cracks. Small cracks can be a sign of the home settling, but large cracks can indicate a structural problem with the foundation.
Hiring a structural engineer to inspect the foundation and structure of a house is the best method in determining whether a house has foundational problems.
2. Pest and Insect Problems
Pests and insects are prevalent in certain areas of the home, and as a home buyer, you should be on the lookout for them. Severe pest problems are cause for concern.
A home infested with pests can be damaged in ways that require thousands of dollars to fix. Wood-destroying pests like termites, powder post beetles, and carpenter ants are among the most common pests that should raise red flags.
3. Electrical System Issues
Older homes are more likely to have electrical issues. Buying a home with inadequate or electrical issues is a red flag. The wiring in many older homes, including some that have knob and tube wiring, has older electrical panels with fuses, which may be problematic.
You may not be a professional electrician. However, simple things such as checking for flickering lights, turning on light switches, and checking outlets are all helpful in figuring out if the electrical system is working properly.
4. Poor Drainage/Grading
If you see the presence of pooled water, it is likely an indication of poor drainage. When a home’s yard has lakes, the drainage is likely poor, resulting in water problems inside the house.
Water stains on basement walls and cracks in the foundation are also signs of poor drainage. Overflowing gutters, migrating mulch, and cracking in the foundation are also signs.
5. Mold
As with water problems, mold problems should raise red flags as well. Mold can pose a serious health risk to children, especially young ones. Often, mold problems aren’t discovered right away, so you need to consider whether a home has mold problems before buying it.
Mold remediation can be accomplished on a home, though it can be very expensive. Many mold testing companies can verify if a house has a mold for sure. Likewise, most home inspectors can help spot mold issues in a home.
Buying a house is an important decision in the life of every family. Is Knoxville a good place to buy real estate? Definitely! Knoxville offers some of the best opportunities for living in the state. It can be challenging as there are many things that you need to consider before signing on the dotted line for a new home.
As a homebuyer in West Knoxville, TN, hopefully, this article has helped you look out for red flags.
Have questions or need help? Contact Rick Smenner, your trusted REALTOR® in West Knoxville, Tennessee.
