Top 10 Common House Problems

1. Poor site drainage... Very common in this area and very detrimental over time but often easy to correct.
2. Faulty electrical wiring... Very dangerous, common in older homes, sometimes in newer homes. This may show up as flickering lights, over-fused panels or tripped breakers. Usually the result of a "handyman" or a homeowner creative add on. These problems must be fixed.
3. Roof leaks, damage, or aging... All roofs eventually leak, which can create water-damaged interiors, but some leaks are easy to repair. However, if the roof is past its useful life, the best investment is a new one.
4. Unsafe heating system... Can be very serious, may be found in older homes or poorly maintained newer systems.
5. Minor structural damage... Often caused by water infiltration, poor materials or poor repairs, identify the cause and fix now to save money later.
6. Plumbing problems... Common in older homes and where incompatible materials were used in repairs to supply lines or faulty fixture waste drain & vent repairs were made.
7. Air and moisture infiltration... Very common around windows and doors. Usually not a structural problem, but is caused by a lack of flashing/caulking and poor weather stripping.
8. Inadequate ventilation... From poor or insufficient crawl space ventilation and the lack of a moisture retarder and or crawl space ventilation. This creates moisture problems that show up in the interior as floor, wall or ceiling problems.
9. Environmental hazards... Such as lead-based paint (common in homes built prior to 1978), asbestos, formaldehyde, radon, leaking underground fuel tanks. These usually require a specialist to determine environmental problems. These can be costly to correct.
10. Poorly maintained house... Examples are chipped or pealing paint, crumbling masonry, broken fixtures, cracks in the walls all of which can be fixed, often with just a small financial outlay and some minor effort on your part.