When you’re shopping for a new home, you might be easily won over by a spacious kitchen or a lush backyard. However, it’s also important to look for issues that could cost you after closing. With the help of a real estate attorney, you can identify these problems and confront the seller before moving forward. If you’re hoping to negotiate a fair selling price for the home you fall in love with, use the following guide to spot the most common issues. 

3 Issues to Look for When Buying a House

1. Foundation Issues

If a home’s foundation is unstable or even cracked, you can identify the ways it’s affected the upper portions of the property. For example, you might notice horizontal cracks in exterior walls, jammed windows, doors that don’t shut, or sloping floors. If left unaddressed, foundation issues could lead to water damage or structural instability.

2. Mold Growth

This fungal growth is usually caused by water damage, such as from poor ventilation, plumbing leaks, or flooding. However, mold isn’t just unsightly—it can also cause serious health issues, from respiratory trouble to headaches.

Signs of mold growth include a musty odor, swelling walls, brown patches on the ceiling, and green, gray, or orange patches in basements, kitchens, and bathrooms. If a single area or wall has just been painted, it may have been an attempt to conceal visible mold growth.

3. Aging HVAC Systems

If your prospective new home has central heating and air conditioning, ask your real estate agent if you can take a look at the system. If you notice puddles of water near the unit, corrosion, or even just a general outdated look, you’ll want to find out when the system was installed.

Those over 10 years old will probably require replacement in the next five, which could make the property’s selling price seem unreasonable. Plus, the older the unit is, the more it will cost to cool and heat your home on a day-to-day basis.

If you notice any of these issues when viewing a home, you don’t necessarily have to consider them deal-breakers. With the help of Bernardini Law P.C., you can negotiate the selling price or request that the current owner fix the issue before moving forward with the closing. This trusted real estate attorney has been helping clients in North Andover, MA, come to fair agreements on properties throughout the area. To learn more about their work, visit their website or call an experienced real estate attorney at (978) 794-5525.