Better Construction, Better Deals on Fairfax County VA Homes for Sale
When looking at Fairfax County VA homes for sale, you automatically notice how nice a place looks: Are the appliances relatively new? Are the walls freshly painted? Don’t forget to look for poor construction as well. Here are a few things to look out for:
- Cracks in walls, ceiling, floors or foundation – Foundation cracks and cracks that radiate from corners, windows or doors can indicate serious problems or things that are expensive to fix. A good place to look is in closets. While many people think to patch up visible cracks elsewhere, they may miss the closets.
- Moving or tilted floors – Pay attention to how the floor feels when you walk across it. If it bounces or dips a lot when you step, there could be problems with structural supports. Tilted floors can indicate that the house has badly settled; while this is to be expected in older homes, newer Fairfax County VA homes for sale should have little to no tilt.
- Doors and windows that stick – Sticky doors or windows can indicate settling, foundation problems or poor construction, as well as the possibility of expensive repairs.
- Wide-open spaces – Especially in older homes, there’s a possibility that two rooms have been combined to create the larger room. It’s best to investigate further in case the remodeler accidentally removed a structural support or load-bearing wall. Sagging ceilings or beams can be a good indication of this.
- Electrical wiring – If a house has had major remodeling, look at the electrical panel. If it doesn’t look new, you should be suspicious. Also, look in the attic to see if you can tell the age of the wiring you see.
Let’s face it – although state laws require that a seller tell you if there are any major problems with a home, some don’t even know there’s a problem. When looking at Fairfax County VA homes for sale, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Find out what you can on your own and then, once you’ve narrowed the possibilities, spend the money on a home inspector.
Let me help you find a well constructed home. Call me today at 703-909-3939 or drop me an email at Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com right now!
Steve Hawkins
Long and Foster REALTORS®
Springfield, Virginia
www.HomeSearchWebsite.com
Steve@HomeSearchWebsite.com
703-909-3939
