3 Signs a Home is in Serious Need of Renovation

If you’re a homeowner or looking to buy your own home, you need to look at the state of the home. Sure, a homeowner will remodel and renovate along the lifespan of their ownership, but someone buying a home needs to also consider what work might need to be done to a home.

Renovations can be very costly, too.

Signs that a home needs renovation, include:

1. Roofing Leaks and Replacement

Foundations and roofs are the two key areas that inspectors focus on when inspecting a home. A leaky roof can cause a variety of hazards, including:

• Mold
• Cave-ins

And a lot of homeowners trying to sell a home fast may paint over these mold spots or try to conceal them as best as possible. If you go into a home that you suspect may have a leaky roof issue, know it will cost $5,000 – $10,000 to replace a basic roof.

Signs that a roof needs to be repaired are:

• Ceiling stains
• Drips
• Random buckets in the home
• Missing shingles
• Curling shingles
• Roof rot

You can mitigate further roofing damage by following these steps:

• Habitually remove leaves and debris to prevent piles from forming in valleys or gutters.
• Keep tabs on all parts of your roof, including vents, flashings, and shingles.
• Know your roof’s age and make sure to replace it every 14-19 years, depending on the type of roof.

An inspector should find these issues when the home is inspected. Following these tips above, you’ll often be able to determine if the roof needs work prior to even reaching the inspection.

2. Plumbing System Issues and Warning Signs

Unless you see pipe lining equipment outside a home, it’s often very difficult to judge a plumbing system. Leaks are hard to find unless you have experience, and some homeowners might not even realize there’s an issue with the plumbing.

Signs that a plumbing system might have issues are:

• Pipes rattle when the water is on
• Showers or sinks drain slow
• Water pressure is low
• Running the dishwasher causes the sink to back up
• Hot water smells like eggs
• Toilets make a bubbling noise

Of course, slow leaks and an increase in your water bill are also signs of plumbing issues.

3. Flooring Needs to be Replaced

Flooring goes through phases. First it was hardwood, then carpeting, and now people are moving back towards hardwood again. Bathrooms and kitchens may have a lot of tiling, and these items need to be replaced often, too.

Costs to install carpeting average $1,500, depending on the space.

Wood flooring installation runs $4,200 on average while natural stone tile is $1,830. You need to account for the size of the room for proper cost estimates.

Signs that flooring may need to be replaced include:

• Tile starts to detach
• Carpet is 10 years old or older
• Carpet is worn
• Wood floors buckle, warp or crack

You might be able to patch some of the flooring, but it all depends on the issue. Wood flooring can be sanded and refinished, but again, this depends on how many times the flooring has been redone.

It’s possible that the flooring will not be easy to bring back to its original state. In the case of warping, this may also be a sign of an underlying water issue that must be fixed.

Inspectors can help you determine issues with a home you’re trying to buy, but these signs can help homeowners find key areas of their home that are in need of remodeling.