The 7 signs of cheap renovations which can devalue your home – and how to spot them if you’re buying
WHEN shopping for a new house, there are two little words potential homeowners love to hear: “just renovated.”
But buyer beware because cheap or rushed renovations can actually devalue your home – but with the right information, they’re easy to spot.
“If sellers don’t hire reputable contractors to complete these projects (or sellers do the work themselves and don’t bother pulling permits), the quality of these renovations might not be up to par,” the home experts at Bob Vila explained.
The pros shared what to look and listen for when buying a home, and the research you can do after a showing to find out more about a property.
RESEARCH THE HVAC
During a home tour, write down the brand of the home’s water heater and HVAC, especially if the agent boasts about either system being brand-new.
“Having new major appliances may not mean much if they aren’t quality brands,” the experts explained.
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“If you aren’t an HVAC professional, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to gauge their quality just looking at their shiny exteriors.”
LOOK AT THE SHINGLES
Did your agent mention the home you’re looking at has a new roof?
“That’s great unless they cut corners with cheap shingles that won’t seal down,” the pros at Bob Vila said.
Roofers might have also done another shady fix: layering shingles on top of existing ones.
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“Layered shingles can hide a host of roof problems, including a faulty roof deck,” the experts explained; it can also void the warranty on the new shingles.
Look for wavy shingles, or gaps, to tell if this could be a problem area.
FIND OUT IF THE HOMEOWNER LIVES THERE
If the home is occupied, see if you can find out who lives there – specifically, find out if the owner of the home lives there, or is just “flipping” the property.
“Homeowners who live in their houses are more likely to invest in quality materials and renovations,” the pros said.
“A house flipper isn’t as motivated to insist on, and spend on quality work.”
OPEN THE DOORS
Give the doorknobs more than a firm jiggle. Open and close the interior doors as you walk through the home.
“Interior doors should all close smoothly without gaps between the door and the frame,” the experts wrote.
You want to make sure the doors work properly, and that the door frames are in good condition too.
Plus, note how heavy they are. Lighter doors might have a hollow core, which might keep them from blocking sound.
CHECK FOR STREAKS AND SEAMS
When you’re looking at the walls and floors, pay close attention to any seams or streaking. They’ll tell you about the materials used in the home, as well as their application.
“You’ll know that a drywall-taping job was done by a pro if there’s no evidence of the seams where the drywall panels meet,” the experts explained.
The carpet shouldn’t have visible seams, either, and if you spot them, the carpet is probably cheap or was an amateur installation.
Streaks in the paint are a warning sign, too.
“Cheap paints are typically thin and don’t cover as well as higher-quality paints,” the experts wrote.
“If you’re at a house showing and you can see a different paint color beneath the new paint or roller marks in the finish, odds are you’re looking at cheap paint.”
OPEN THE WINDOWS
Just like with doors, how well windows function reveals their quality.
“Unlock, open and close the windows,” the home experts insisted.
“Good quality windows that are installed by a professional should glide smoothly and close snugly without the window sticking.”
If traditional or casement windows are difficult to open, the hardware or the installation could be subpar, and you’ll need to address it before making an offer.
TRY TO SPOT FOUNDATION DISTRACTIONS
Flowerbeds and fresh paint are pretty, but they can be a warning sign of ugly truths when a structural contractor inspects a home’s foundation.
In some cases, sellers try to disguise cracks or leaks in foundation walls with distracting additions.
“Don’t be fooled into thinking a new coat of paint on the foundation walls is a remedy for structural repairs,” the pros warned.
“If you see fresh soil piled against foundation walls – be suspicious,” the outlet added. “Soil can hide a host of foundation flaws.”
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Whether you notice signs of damage or not, make sure an engineer or structural contractor inspects the foundation closely.
Foundation damage is dangerous and expensive, so you want to avoid it at all costs when buying a home.
