STORY 5 Although a home inspector gave Justin’s and Kate’s new home a pass, he missed some problems. For instance, the previous homeowner supposedly installed and tested a new sump pump in the basement; it failed shortly after move-in, flooding the basement. Then the sunroomwas filled with termites, costing the couple $2,000 in repairs. After the termites were eradicated, they discovered the sunroom was also entirely covered inmold because there was no caulking around the windows to keep the moisture out. A better home inspector would have been able to see the signs of termites and mold. The sump pump should also have been checked by the inspector, but it at least could genuinely have only failed after the inspection. Sump pumps can burn out, lose power, become clogged or misaligned, or malfunction in a variety of other ways. It is valuable to have a warning device installed that will signal water build-up. These alarms can alert homeowners or neighbors of flooding so that it can be resolved before water damage occurs. DON’T LET IT HAPPEN TO YOU Be careful. Be smart. These horror stories are real, and they happen every day. Do your homework before jumping into a new home. Too many of us spend more time investigating a car before making a purchase than we do investigating a house, even when we know we’ll be spending tens or hundreds of thousands more dollars and decades longer paying for it. You have time to educate yourself, and I hope that this little chapter has helped you move forward in the right direction, no matter how bored or frustrated the seemingly-endless inspections and tours might leave you! • • •
89
Powered by FlippingBook