Buying Your 1st House: Red Flags

Whether your first house will be a newly-constructed home or one that has had a previous owner, there are certain red flags you can look for, to protect yourself, your family and your investment.

Avoid or be very wary of any house in a floodplain. Ideally, any house in a floodplain should have all living spaces elevated well above any expected flood level of relative frequency. Check on the availability of — or the need for — flood insurance, and be sure you understand all of its provisions and implications.

Your new house should have site grading that falls gently away from the house on all sides, especially if it has a basement. Grades that fall toward the house will simply channel water toward the basement or foundation walls, allowing it to eventually seep inward. Inquire about perimeter foundation drains that might catch and divert such water. Note any graded swales on the property, and find out how much water they may carry, in what directions, and how frequently.

Examine any basement carefully for signs of dampness or wetness. If a basement wall feels inordinately cool or clammy to the touch, it may be a sign of embedded moisture. If a previously-owned basement appears freshly painted or paneled, inquire about past water problems. Look for cracks or other flaws in any basement or garage slabs; such slabs should best have control joints every 10 to 20 feet or so to allow slight movement while controlling cracking or worse.

Look around for floor drains — roughly one for each 400-500 square feet of area or so, and always near hot water tanks, laundries, condensate lines from furnaces or air conditioning units, and any other water appliance. If your new house is on a low site, in a low-lying neighborhood or any area prone to flooding, be sure there is a sump with sump pump (and battery back-up for power outages).

As you walk through the house, bob gently on the balls of your feet occasionally to test the ‘bounce’ of floor framing, especially in older homes, and near the centers of large rooms. This will give you some indication of the strength and sturdiness of the floor structure, and may point to potential problem areas. Pay close attention to creaks, squeaks or pops from flooring and stairs. Examine any first floor framing visible from a basement; ideally all lumber framing should be fairly clear, straight and true, with a minimum of laps, splices, patches or lumber knots or voids.

By keeping your eyes and ears open, and being fairly inquisitive, you can diminish the unwelcome surprises that may face you once you occupy your first house.