4 Red Flags of the Condition of a Home in Scottsdale

A home inspection ensures the property you are looking at isn’t riddled with disastrous problems that will cause you much financial hardship down the road. But unless you’re a builder or have years of experience working on homes as a carpenter, you will want to hire a Scottsdale home inspector to check things out before you make a purchase.

However, a Scottsdale home inspection is not free and takes valuable time. If you can spot major problems with the home you’re looking at, you can eliminate that house from consideration and save on the expense of a Scottsdale home inspection.

Keep reading for 4 red flags of the condition of a home in Scottsdale. If any of these 4 areas in the home have problems, you will want to at least obtain an estimate on repair cost before you make a purchase decision, especially if you have your heart set on the place. If not, you can simply walk away without any negative financial repercussions.

Roofing

When looking at a potential home in Scottsdale, take some time and carefully examine the roof. Is the roof line straight or does it dip in the middle or at either end? Any sagging will indicate that the underlying roof (i.e. plywood attached to rafters or the rafters themselves) may be rotten.

Next, examine the actual roofing itself. Shingle roofs should lay flat with no curly edges. It also needs to be clean as debris on the roof may be covering up problems. Metal roofing should also be lying flat with no edges popping up and no screws/nails sticking up higher than the roofing. Shake (wood shingle) roofing is more difficult to determine from the ground but if the edges are ragged, it may be time to replace the roof.

Flooring

When walking through your prospective Scottsdale home, examine flooring in each room of the house – and not just the middle of the room. If there’s a downward slope in a room, then the floors are not level which indicates a problem with the foundation or moisture in the floor.

They should also feel solid as well. Spongy spots can arise around bathtubs, sinks and water heaters and while it isn’t a major project to remove and replace sub-flooring and flooring, it can get expensive. And be sure to take a look at any carpet and its condition. If the current Scottsdale home owner abused the carpet, it may need replacing.

Walls

Another area of concern for homes in Scottsdale is the walls. If there are water marks, or dark areas near the floor, you may have mold in the home. Pay close attention to walls in the basement and the outside corners of the house. And if you can see mold on the outside, it’s safe to assume it’s on the inside and a major problem.

You can have mold removed in a home in Scottsdale but it’s possible the place you’re looking at is prone to recurring mold. If you see any mold, you’re best just finding another place.

Foundation

Last but not least, take a careful look at the foundation of your prospective Scottsdale home. Notice the sill plate – a strip of wood running across the top of the concrete just below the exterior walls. It’s often hidden but can sometimes be seen in doorways. If it’s rotten, get away from this house as quickly as you can.

If the home is older, check to see if it has a concrete foundation. Wood-to-earth contact is a loan killer for FHA and VA government backed loans and should be cause for concern anyway. If there is wood-to-earth contact, a pest inspection is definitely suggested.

If all 4 of these areas look okay, then you’re likely looking at a solid home in Scottsdale and one that’s worthy of making an offer on. If any of them are present, you will need to consider the time and money it will take to fix them and whether the Scottsdale home means enough to you to warrant the expense.

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