Buying a home is exciting, but it can also be a death trap<\/b> if you don’t know what you’re looking at. At first glance, everything may look perfect: freshly painted walls, shiny floors, a modern kitchen… but it’s what you don’t see that really matters.<\/b> <\/p>\n
Hidden defects<\/b> are those problems that are not easily detected in a quick visit, but that can turn a house that seemed like a dream into your worst nightmare.<\/b> And the worst part: some sellers know<\/b> they’re there, but go to great lengths to hide them.<\/p>\n
So, before you sign anything, here are the keys to detect hidden defects like an expert and avoid being ripped off.<\/b><\/p>\n
1\ufe0f\u20e3<\/span> HUMIDITY: THE SILENT ENEMY <\/b>????\ufe0f????<\/span><\/p>\n Moisture is like the Terminator of homes: it always comes back<\/b>. And if you don’t catch it in time, be prepared to live in an environment of mold, foul odors and walls that seem to be melting. <\/p>\n ????<\/span> Warning signs:<\/b> ????<\/span> Tip:<\/b> Take a hygrometer<\/b> (measures humidity in the environment) and run it in different areas. If there are high humidity levels for no apparent reason… red alert.<\/b> <\/p>\n 2\ufe0f\u20e3<\/span> ELECTRICAL INSTALLATIONS: A HOME OR A DEATH TRAP? <\/b>\u26a1????<\/span><\/p>\n If the electrical installation is in poor condition, not only will you have to pay a lot of money for repairs, but you may end up with short circuits and even fires.<\/b><\/p>\n ????<\/span> Warning signs:<\/b> ????<\/span> Tip:<\/b> Ask the year of the electrical installation<\/b>. If it is more than 20 years old and has not been checked, it surely needs to be changed.<\/b> <\/p>\n 3\ufe0f\u20e3<\/span> STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS: WHEN THE HOUSE IS FALLING APART <\/b>????\ufe0f????<\/span><\/p>\n Cracks can be a simple crack in the paint… or a sign that the house is about to collapse.<\/b> And no, that’s not an exaggeration.<\/p>\n ????<\/span> Warning signs:<\/b> ????<\/span> Trick:<\/b> Take a marble<\/b> and put it on the ground. If it starts rolling for no apparent reason… problem detected.<\/b> <\/p>\n 4\ufe0f\u20e3<\/span> PIPES AND DRAINS: WATER THAT DOES NOT FLOW, PROBLEMS THAT REACH <\/b>????????<\/span><\/p>\n There is nothing worse than buying a house and finding out that the drains are clogged, the pipes are leaking or the water has hardly any pressure.<\/b><\/p>\n ????<\/span> Warning signs:<\/b> ????<\/span> Tip:<\/b> Ask if the pipes are lead<\/b> or galvanized<\/b>. If they are, you will have to change them. <\/p>\n 5\ufe0f\u20e3<\/span> WINDOWS AND INSULATION: HELL OR THE REFRIGERATOR IN YOUR HOME <\/b>????\ufe0f\u2744\ufe0f????<\/span><\/p>\n Poor insulation means that in summer you’ll be roasting hot<\/b> and in winter you’ll be freezing<\/b>. Plus, you’ll pay higher electricity bills than your rent. <\/p>\n ????<\/span> Warning signs:<\/b> ????<\/span> Tip:<\/b> If there are rugs, thick curtains or blankets everywhere<\/b>, the owner may be trying to hide a temperature or noise problem.<\/p>\n 6\ufe0f\u20e3<\/span> HOUSING WITH LEGAL PROBLEMS: PAPERWORK HELL <\/b>????\u26a0\ufe0f<\/span><\/p>\n It’s not all physical problems. There are houses that legally are a mess<\/b>, and if you buy without checking, then it’s your problem. <\/p>\n ????<\/span> Warning signs:<\/b> ????<\/span> Tip:<\/b> Ask for a Nota Simple at the Land Registry<\/b> to see the legal status of the house before paying one euro.<\/p>\n ????<\/span> SUMMARY: HOW TO AVOID BEING RIPPED OFF WITH HIDDEN DEFECTS<\/b><\/p>\n ????<\/span> Moisture:<\/b> Odd odors, hidden stains and suspiciously new paint. Buying a home is exciting, but it can also be a death trap if you don’t know what you’re looking at. At first glance, everything may look perfect: freshly painted walls, shiny floors, a modern kitchen… but it’s what you don’t see that really matters. Hidden defects are those problems that are not easily detected […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2788,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[102,97],"tags":[108,100,106,104],"class_list":["post-2796","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buy-a-house","category-real-estate-advice","tag-buy-apartment","tag-buy-house","tag-buying-a-home","tag-detect-hidden-defects"],"yoast_head":"\n
\n\u2705<\/span> Freshly painted walls<\/b> \u2192<\/span> If you see that there is a “too new” coat of paint in particular areas, be suspicious. It may be an attempt to hide moisture stains.
\n\u2705<\/span> Closed or musty smell<\/b> \u2192<\/span> Don’t just look, smell<\/b>. If the house smells funny, there’s something wrong.
\n\u2705<\/span> Stains on ceilings and corners<\/b> \u2192<\/span> Look in corners, behind furniture and on the lower part of walls.<\/p>\n
\n\u2705<\/span> Wires in sight or plugs in poor condition.<\/b>
\n\u2705<\/span> Different types of plugs in the house<\/b> \u2192<\/span> If there are some old ones and some new ones, it is possible that the installation is an electrical Frankenstein.
\n\u2705<\/span> Lights that flicker or jump leads<\/b> when you turn something on.<\/p>\n
\n\u2705<\/span> Deep or sloping cracks<\/b> (vertical ones are usually less of a concern).
\n\u2705<\/span> Doors and windows that don’t fit properly<\/b> \u2192<\/span> If you notice when you open a door that it rubs too much, it could be that the structure of the house has moved.
\n\u2705<\/span> Unlevel floors<\/b> \u2192<\/span> If you feel like you’re walking on a skate park, something is wrong.<\/p>\n
\n\u2705<\/span> Faucets with low pressure<\/b> \u2192<\/span> Open all faucets and test the shower. If the water comes out as a weak stream, there may be problems with the pipes.
\n\u2705<\/span> Slow drains<\/b> \u2192<\/span> Fill the sink and see how long it takes to drain. If it takes longer than normal, there are clogged pipes.
\n\u2705<\/span> Strange sounds in the pipes<\/b> when you open a faucet \u2192<\/span> May indicate air in the pipes or that they are in bad condition.<\/p>\n
\n\u2705<\/span> Older windows with single pane glass.<\/b>
\n\u2705<\/span> Drafts inside the house<\/b> (pass your hand near doors and windows).
\n\u2705<\/span> Excessive outside noise<\/b> \u2192<\/span> If you hear everything going on in the street, the insulation is lousy.<\/p>\n
\n\u2705<\/span> Seller avoids showing the Nota Simple.<\/b>
\n\u2705<\/span> Property with heirs who do not agree with the sale.<\/b>
\n\u2705<\/span> Works done without license<\/b> \u2192<\/span> If you see suspicious extensions, investigate if they are registered.<\/p>\n
\n\u26a1<\/span> Electricity:<\/b> Old wiring, flickering lights and different plugs.
\n????\ufe0f<\/span> Structure:<\/b> Slanted cracks, uneven floors and doors that do not fit.
\n????<\/span> Pipelines:<\/b> Low water pressure, slow drains and noisy pipes.
\n????\ufe0f<\/span> Insulation:<\/b> Old windows, drafts and excessive exterior noise.
\n????<\/span> Legality:<\/b> Incomplete paperwork, unregistered works and problematic inheritances.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"