5 Signs the House You Want to Buy Is a Money Pit

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For any home buyer, making the largest purchase of your life can seem like a minefield. The financial commitment of a down payment and 30-year mortgage is stressful enough. When you factor in a thousand unknowns about unexpected costs and maintenance surprises, it's amazing that any of us are brave enough to sign on the dotted line and pick up the keys. Of course, hiring a quality home inspector is an absolute must for uncovering a house's hidden issues. But if you want to be sure your dream home isn't a nightmare in disguise, a little personal detective work can help too. (See also: Home Details I Overlooked the First Time)

1. Problems in the Basement

Forget the kitchen; the basement is the real heart of a home.

If you live an area where homes are built to include basements, make sure it's a focus of your pre-buy inspection. This part of a house can provide valuable clues on the quality of construction; condition of the HVAC, plumbing, and electrical systems; and how well previous owners have maintained the building. Avoid sagging floor joists or unstable supports, ancient heating and AC systems, leaking water heaters, and electrical panels with loose wires.

2. Water Warnings

Basements are also a great place to begin scouting for potential water issues. Check for cracked or buckling walls that are just waiting for a good rainstorm before they spring a leak. Pay special attention to damp smells or stains on the floors or lower portion of the walls that indicate recurring issues with standing water.

But don't stop in the basement — check all bathroom and kitchen fixtures to get an idea of how well toilets, showers, and sinks have been taken care of. Look for mold and mildew buildup, corroded or leaky pipes, and fittings that haven't been properly caulked and sealed. Check the ceilings and walls on the home's lower floors for any discoloration, peeling paint, or bubbling wallpaper. Each could signal old leaks from an upper-floor bathroom or kitchen.

Finally, take a close look at the home's windows. Are the exterior window seals smooth and intact or cracked and crumbling? Stained or loose window trim can be a clue to long-term water intrusion, which can damage the framing, electrical wiring, and eventually lead to mold growth.

3. Damaged Windows

As long as you're inspecting the windows, open each one. Stuck, damaged, or warped window frames can mean a budget-busting window replacement bill. Also, remember that old single-paned windows can be one of many energy-drainers in your home. If you live in climates where the weather is seasonally extreme, consider the long-term cost of old windows versus the expense of an upgrade.

4. Mold

Mold — the four-letter word that strikes fear in the heart of every homeowner. Unaddressed moisture issues can lead to mold problems and for home buyers, the signs can be hard to spot. Be aware of unusual smells that don't seem to have any specific source and look for the telltale moisture problems that typically go hand-in-hand with mold growth.

Visually, check for even the smallest spots of mold growth. And remember, mold comes in many forms — some appear white and wispy, while other types form in tight clusters of black, brown, or green dots. The tiny patches you're able to see could be signaling huge colonies of mold just out of sight (and that can mean serious mold remediation costs). For more information on moisture and mold in your home, check out this comprehensive guide from the EPA.

5. Foundation Issues

Make sure the home you're considering rests on a solid footing. Although most buyers can't do a complete structural inspection themselves, they can look for small signs that indicate bigger issues.

Again, head to the basement or crawl space and if neither exists, examine the foundation from the outside. Look for cracked foundation walls, buckling, or gaps of any sort that might indicate larger issues. On the main floors, look for cracks in the drywall, especially in corners and around doorways and windows. Each could belie a hidden structural problem that's causing a shift in the framing. More proactively, check the lot for trees that are set too close to the home. The winding root systems of maturing trees can damage foundations over time. This foundation review by HouseLogic is a great resource for learning more about potential problems and related repair costs.

Two More Money Pit Dodgers

Let me wrap things up with two more pieces of tactical advice for dodging money pits.

Visit After Bad Weather

First, if you've found a home you're interested in, consider doing a walk-through or scheduling a professional inspection immediately following bad weather. Although your Realtor may not be a fan of this idea, it's a helpful strategy for spotting leaks, drainage problems, or general weather-proofing issues.

If Buying a Condo, Review the Minutes

Second, if you're in the market for a condo or townhome, never make a purchase without first carefully reviewing the last three months' worth of the HOA's meeting minutes. Though major issues must legally be disclosed before the sale, undiscovered building-wide problems usually first appear in the HOA's meeting minutes.

While it's expected that home-buying will be stressful on some level, it can also be an exciting time. Investing in your future, building equity, and making memories are all wonderful parts of ownership. With a little know-how and a lot of due diligence, you can help make sure the house you buy is a home worthy of your time, labor, and money.

Did you avoid buying a money pit? What tipped you off?