Top 10 Home Inspection Defects to Watch For

By Rebecca Williamson · July 30th, 2009

Top defects to look for in a San Mateo home

Q: What kind of physical defects should we be looking for when inspecting a San Mateo County home?

A: What a great question. As REALTORS we take for granted that home buyers see what we do. This list will vary in different parts of the country, but we’ll focus on San Mateo County. As you go through the list, keep in mind that these are not necessarily deal breakers from a real estate standpoint. Every problem mentioned can be fixed with varying degrees of time, money and effort. Our job is to arm you with all of the information so you can make an informed decision of what types of repairs you would be comfortable performing.

Termite infestation. A licensed pest control operator can identify active infestation of these wood destroying organisms. Sometimes seller’s will provide a pest inspection report as part of their disclosures, but often buyer’s bring in their own inspector after they have an accepted contract.

Fungus Infection. Another matter for a pest inspector to investigate is the presence of dry rot – a particular type of wood destroying organism. Dry rot is caused by excessive, prolonged moisture conditions.

Drainage and water intrusion. Unintended water penetration is a major cause of structural failure, health concerns and discomfort. If water is not directed away from the house, water intrusion and drainage issues may be present. Also, if the home is lower than the rest of the lot, you’ll likely get pooling around the structure. Remember, water needs to be diverted away from the structure.

Soil instability. Soil movement including erosion and landslides can cause foundation and /or retaining wall failure.

Settlement. Rolling floors, wall and ceiling cracks, doors and windows that bind or are out-of-plumb are indicative of structural movement. Some structural movement is expected for older homes, but major settlement issues can suggest a more serious problem.

Mold. Commonly a consequence of excessive moisture conditions, mold and toxic allergens can present serious health concerns. Nothing should be growing on sheet rock, a carpet floor, or on hardwood floors.

Broken masonry chimneys. Typically seen in earthquake country, like the Bay Area, damaged stone, brick and concrete block chimneys can pose health and safety issues.

Antiquated electrical systems. Fuse boxes, knob and tube wiring, ungrounded electrical plugs are incompatible with present power requirements, modern electrical appliances and tools. These issues are seen frequently in the older homes here on the peninsula.

Old furnaces and water heaters. Energy-wasting heating and water devices are costly and relatively ineffective.

Environmentally inefficient windows and exterior doors. Thermal pane windows and heavy weather resistant doors buffer noise, enhance comfort and maintain desired temperature.

What Happens if You Find These Defects?

We take great pride in helping our clients identify potential problems with the homes they buy. If something doesn’t look right, we’ll recommend you bring out a specialist to give you an idea of the severity of the problem and the cost to remedy. We believe you should have as much information possible before making a commitment to buy a property. If you follow our recommendations, you will know what you are buying so you can make an informed decision on whether or not this is the right home for you. If the property you are considering is going to cost you a lot of money to remedy, or will be difficult to sell, or has a location flaw, we’ll be the first to tell you. Then, after you get all of the information you need, you decide if this property is the right one for you!

Curious About What’s on the Market?

Check out our sister site, SanMateoHomesInfo.com for a searchable database of all of the homes for sale today. Our site is updated regularly and no registration is required for full access.

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