Buying A Home: 3 Basement Problems to Consider

Nobody wants to inherit someone else's problem, and homebuyers especially don't want any surprises after the close.  However, sometimes—despite a seller's honest effort to be thorough in disclosing any and all known issues—things just go undetected.  Therefore, it's always important to be on the lookout for basement and foundation problems when buying a home.

Cracks

Check inside and outside for signs of a foundation problem.  Cracks can occur in exterior masonry or interior drywall.  They can appear in block or poured concrete.  Cracks can be vertical or horizontal.  They can be wide enough to stick your fingers inside, or they can be as thin as a hair.  Foundation cracks are a sign of a much bigger problem that gets worse over time as foundation walls settle, bow, or even leak.

Water

The best time to spot a wet basement is on a rainy day.  Call your realtor, and schedule a showing during inclement weather.  It's better to endure a slight inconvenience now (when it's someone else's problem) than to deal with a flooded basement later (when it has to come out of your own wallet).  This is the time when most gutters, downspouts, sump pumps, and drainage systems either work perfectly or fail miserably.

Mold

Mold is a dead giveaway when it comes to basement water problems.  Mold requires moisture to thrive, and a damp, leaky basement provides the perfect environment for mold to flourish.  Wooden building materials are "mold candy" when wet.  In unfinished basements, the wooden floor joists, rim joists, and sill plates are exposed.  Signs of mold and wood rot may be easier to spot.  In a finished basement, look at the ceiling and baseboards around the perimeter.  Unaddressed plumbing leaks and rainwater leaking in at the sill plate may stain drywall or ceiling tiles, while groundwater leaks may be evidenced by stained baseboard or trim.  If these materials show signs of moisture, mold is not far off.

Identifying foundation cracks, basement leaks, and mold problems while you're still shopping will help you determine whether the house you're considering is a good deal...or a lemon.