Buying Property

10 Most Common Defects

In order of occurrence:

1. Poor drainage is the most common defect found by surveyors. Correcting a drainage problem may require a new system of roof gutters and downspouts or re-grading the lot to improve water flow away from the house.

2. Faulty wiring resulting from an insufficient or an out of date electrical system is another common problem, especially in older homes. To bring such a home up to standard or to make it safe, may require replacing the entire electrical system or a major part of it

3. Leaky roof may be caused by old or damaged shingles, or improper flashing. Repairing shingles or small amounts of flashing is inexpensive, but if the entire roof needs to be replaced, you face a much larger cost. .

4. Unsafe heating system can be a serious health and safety hazard. To correct this defect, you may have to repair or replace the old furnace, which is a major expense. As a rule, its a good idea to install carbon monoxide detectors in a couple of locations in the house if you have any type of combustible heating (oil, gas or coal).

5. Poor overall maintenance can be seen in cracked or peeling paint, crumbling masonry, broken fixtures or shoddy wiring or plumbing. While most of these cosmetic defects can be easily repaired, you do need to pay particular attention to any makeshift electrical or plumbing fixtures, which can be potentially dangerous. You should replace all such makeshift fixtures.

6. Minor structural damage can result from water seepage into the foundation, floor joists, rafters, or window and door lintels. Although they won’t cause the house to collapse, they do require your attention before becoming more serious.

7. Plumbing problems typically include old or incompatible piping materials and faulty fixtures or waste lines. Repairing these problems can range from simple repairs, such as replacing a fixture, to more expensive measures, such as replacing all the plumbing

8. Water and air leaking in around windows and doors is usually not a serious problem and can be fixed inexpensively with proper groutting.

9. Inadequate ventilation can cause too much moisture to remain in the house which can ruin interior walls and structural elements. To repair damage caused by poor ventilation, you may only have to replace drywall and other inexpensive pieces. Replacing structural elements, however, can be much more expensive.

10. Environmental hazards include lead-based paint (often found in homes built before 1978), asbestos, formaldehyde, contaminated drinking water, radon and leaking underground oil tanks. Special inspections are needed to determine environmental problems, and repairing any of these problems can be expensive.