Pick a Home With a Dry Basement
One important home buying tip is to pick a home with a dry basement.
This is important because it's very easy to brush this off as a normal home problem, but it could really have a huge impact on you as a home buyer in the long run.
Not all sellers will disclose a damp basement to you.
Let's say you want to buy Yardley real estate.
As you look at Yardley homes for sale, it's important that you check the basement during the initial visit and keep an eye out for several signs of a damp basement like: 1.
A pervasive smell of dampness - A lot of people think that all basements should smell damp.
After all, it is under the house.
However, a dry basement will smell very different from a damp basement.
A damp basement will have a musty odor that's quite unmistakeable.
At times it smells like wet rags or stagnant water.
2.
Water stains on the walls and floor - Look closely on the wall and floor surfaces of the basement for signs of water damage like streaking and discoloration.
If there are wood surfaces inside the basement (like the stairs, shelves, or walls, for example), take a soft-tipped pencil and poke at the surfaces to see if they are soft.
Soft wood is most likely a sign of water damage and could tell you that the surface sometimes has water seeping into it.
3.
Mold in corners and surfaces - If you see any black, brown, green, or yellow discoloration, it's good if you can have it tested if it's mold.
Ask the home inspection company you are thinking of hiring if mold inspection is part of the service or if you need a specialized inspection for that.
Check especially the northwest corner of the house because this is usually the coldest corner and thus the corner most likely to form molds.
4.
Salt deposits and peeling - Look at surfaces that are peeling off or have whitish salt deposits on the surface.
This is usually something you normally see in concrete, stone or brick surfaces.
At times, you'll notice some grayish-white discoloration on the walls that may sparkle.
If you've got sparkling walls, it may be a sign of a wet basement.
It's entirely possible that the previous home owner didn't know about this or thought that the smell is normal.
If the home owner is aware that the basement is wet, proving that they know it will be difficult in court.
It could take way more time and money to fight it out in court than you're expecting.
This is important because it's very easy to brush this off as a normal home problem, but it could really have a huge impact on you as a home buyer in the long run.
Not all sellers will disclose a damp basement to you.
Let's say you want to buy Yardley real estate.
As you look at Yardley homes for sale, it's important that you check the basement during the initial visit and keep an eye out for several signs of a damp basement like: 1.
A pervasive smell of dampness - A lot of people think that all basements should smell damp.
After all, it is under the house.
However, a dry basement will smell very different from a damp basement.
A damp basement will have a musty odor that's quite unmistakeable.
At times it smells like wet rags or stagnant water.
2.
Water stains on the walls and floor - Look closely on the wall and floor surfaces of the basement for signs of water damage like streaking and discoloration.
If there are wood surfaces inside the basement (like the stairs, shelves, or walls, for example), take a soft-tipped pencil and poke at the surfaces to see if they are soft.
Soft wood is most likely a sign of water damage and could tell you that the surface sometimes has water seeping into it.
3.
Mold in corners and surfaces - If you see any black, brown, green, or yellow discoloration, it's good if you can have it tested if it's mold.
Ask the home inspection company you are thinking of hiring if mold inspection is part of the service or if you need a specialized inspection for that.
Check especially the northwest corner of the house because this is usually the coldest corner and thus the corner most likely to form molds.
4.
Salt deposits and peeling - Look at surfaces that are peeling off or have whitish salt deposits on the surface.
This is usually something you normally see in concrete, stone or brick surfaces.
At times, you'll notice some grayish-white discoloration on the walls that may sparkle.
If you've got sparkling walls, it may be a sign of a wet basement.
It's entirely possible that the previous home owner didn't know about this or thought that the smell is normal.
If the home owner is aware that the basement is wet, proving that they know it will be difficult in court.
It could take way more time and money to fight it out in court than you're expecting.
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