Patricia-Anne Tom tells homebuyers, through her article in Realtor, that a vacant home may be the best bargain on the block. This is because unoccupied residences are often offered at a reduced price. However, she advises that potential buyers should beware, as many of these homes bear problems caused by aging, lack of maintenance, neglect, human damage and other factors.
In a separate article, also in Realtor, Gina Roberts-Grey gives a list of the things to watch out for if you are really into the purchase of a vacant house.
1. Dried and cracked seals
Jason Shank, training director of Cleveland Plumbing Industry, says plumbing is one of the weak spots of a vacant home, as many homeowners will just simply shut off the water at a toilet or sink valve, instead of turning off water, and draining and treating pipes to prevent catastrophic fractures. However, every plumbing fixture, valve, gasket, or hose also needs water to stay pliable so they won't crack once they become dry. Make sure then that all water and valves are turned--and left--on for several days before a home inspection.
2. Finicky appliances
Shank warns, "The valves in dishwashers can get stuck in the closed position when they sit around unused for weeks on end." Once you turn the water again, watch out for leaks or flood or the need for replacement. To avoid this, try to negotiate the purchase price to reflect the need for a new dishwasher, washing machine, and refrigerator with ice and/or water features, since it's hard to tell when an appliance has been unused.
3. Low-flowing faucets
Shank advises that instead of being free-flowing, long-unused faucets can be drippy once you turn it back on. This is because home pipes made of galvanized steel may have scaly minerals building up inside them when the water has been turned off for a while, and once turned back on, the deposits may prevent water from flowing at normal velocity. As a solution, Shank recommends that water be turned on and allowed to run both on the hot and cold at each plumbing fixture, in order to clear any air from the system. After that, turn off the faucets and remove the aerator (the screen disc) from each fixture, and then clean it if there are visible debris. Lastly, turn the water on without the aerator to flush the system, and then put it back.
4. Presence of woodland creatures
Being unoccupied for some time, the vacant home may become a refuge for many creatures - squirrels, mice, rats, possum, bats and others. Avail the services of pest removal companies which offers inspection services, spot infestations and solutions to other animal-related problems.
