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Buying or Selling a Home/Buying a home with some water damage

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Expert: - 2/27/2009


Question
hello,
I am looking into a house that is a foreclosure. It's utilities have been turned off and the house has been winterized. While viewing the house for the first time we noticed that there was obvious water damage coming in on the ceiling of the living room and the adjacent hallway (both of these rooms are close to the bathroom. However the rest of the house appeared to have no water damage at all. I am considering buying this house and I am going to have a general contractor come out and take a look to give me an estimate of repairs. I would also have a home inspector take a look at it. I guess I wandering how bad can this be? Like I said said earlier the water damage appears to be isolated to one section of the house. Also, what are other implication of water damage and how can I get a real idea of what this house would cost me repair wise to fix?

Answer
Hey, Chris.

It's difficult to answer all of your questions without seeing the damage either by being there or at least some pictures. What I'd like to do is have you email me directly at russel@russel-ray.com and I'll help you wor through the water damage, as well as the problems that can come with a home that has been winterized, even with a thorough home inspection.

Russel

Buying or Selling a Home

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Russel Ray

Expertise

Through home inspections, I provide an education about real estate. I'm one of those rare home inspectors who has been involved in real estate in many different capacities: as a Realtor (in Texas), as a property investor/flipper, as a teacher, and as a marketing expert (for Realtors and home inspectors). I believe that my experience as a Realtor and property investor provides me with a different viewpoint about home inspections in that I work for my Clients, but when there are other people involved in helping my Clients, then I firmly believe in helping them, too. That includes Realtors (both the seller's and the buyer's), repair professionals (e.g., plumbers, electricians, etc.). If I can get all the players (seller, seller's Realtor, buyer, buyer's Realtor, and repair professionals) playing in the same sandbox together to accomplish goals as a TEAM (Together Everyone Accomplishes More), then I believe I have succeeded in my job as a home inspector. My profession is, in my opinion, much more than simply documenting the condition of a property and then take the money and run. I am also a rare breed in that I don't believe that one inspection fits the needs of all Clients, and I have led the industry in understanding that fact. For example, the goals of a property investor are far different than the goals of someone buying a property to live in. The goals of a seller (a pre-listing inspection) are far different than the goals of a buyer (a pre-purchase inspection). To that end, I offer 14 different types of inspections, e.g., STANDARD, LIST, RENTER, BASIC, MAINTENANCE, SPOT, and more. I believe in giving the benefit of the doubt to all professionals in whatever industry they represent until they prove me wrong.

Experience

Over 42 years in all aspects of real estate--building homes, renovating homes, inspecting homes, Realtor.

Organizations
National Association of Certified Home Inspector, Better Business Bureau of San Diego

Education/Credentials
Graduate of Texas A&M University; College Station, Texas

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