Home Inspection of Foreclosure and Short Sale Homes?

Home Inspection of Foreclosure and Short Sale Homes?

Since many short sales and Foreclosure homes are sold “As Is,” some people opt to forego formal home inspections, in an effort to hold down cost. If you've been thinking about investing in one of the many Central Ohio foreclosures, make sure the home you buy doesn't have major problems. However, before you spend the money for a home inspector, look at these common problem areas:

Ceilings
Usually, ceilings are made of plaster and plasterboard. While looking at the ceilings, keep an eye out for these issues:
Cracks, holes or uneven areas
Dampness or mold growth
Crumbling areas
Cracked or bulging areas

Walls
In general, walls are made of bonding plaster or plasterboard. You can look for the same problems as you would on ceilings, with the addition of a few more:
Loose skirting board
Soft, damp or rotten
Discolored decorations, blisters or other faults such as peeling wallpaper
Dangerous materials such as asbestos or gloss-painted polystyrene tiles. Asbestos can be hard to identify; if you think you have asbestos, get professional help.

Floors
No matter what material the floor is made of in the short sale or foreclosure, the structural supports are generally made of the same types of materials as other homes. Here are a few things to look for:
Uneven flooring
Movement, cracking, lifting or dampness
Loose floor covering, such as raised boards or lifted tiles
Large gaps between floorboards
Cracked or missing tiles

Plumbing
The kitchen and the bathroom may hold most of the plumbing, but some will go through the rest of the house as well. Look at the plumbing for:
Rust or leaks
Hammering or knocking pipes
Lead pipes
Improperly supported water tanks

Wiring
Faulty or old wiring can be a major hazard in any potential home. Although some wiring issues aren't easy to spot, there are signs:
Rubber cables or single-flex wiring twisted together with exposed insulation
Blackened or failing power sockets
Brittle or bare wiring
Plugs that get hot when used

No inspection should be considered finished until a licensed home inspector has come to the Central Ohio home that you're interested in. However, by using this guide, you'll only have to call an inspector once – to get a clean bill of health on your new real estate.

Want to get a great buy on foreclosed property? I specialize in this area and would be happy to guide you through the complicated process. Give me a call today at 614-273-6406 or email me at Vanessa.simmons@realliving.com

KEYWORD: Columbus, Reynoldsburg, Gahanna, Pickerington, Canal Winchester, New Albany, Ohio Foreclosures
LINKS:
Home inspector - www.ashi.org/
Asbestos - http://www.epa.gov/iaq/asbestos.html
Wiring issues - http://www.thecircuitdetective.com/faq.htm

My website to check out current short sales and HUD homes: http://www.realliving.com/vanessa.simmons/.