ou fall in love with a replace. You can also landscape a
house - the elegant front run-down yard. As long as the
porch, the wood-burning problems aren't an indicator of
fireplace in the living room, the serious neglect, a house that's
roomy eat-in kitchen, the just a little worse for wear may
expansive master bedroom. All it actually be a great bargain.
needs is a little TLC. You'll
just fix the rotting floorboards Distinguish ongoing maintenance
on the porch, get rid of the jobs from emergency repairs.
raccoons in the chimney and put a
coat of paint on the walls. Every house will eventually need
a new furnace, roof and
Before you know it, you discover appliances. So don't cross a
that termites inhabit the rotting place off your list just because
floorboards, none of the it has an elderly furnace, worn
bathrooms work and the wiring is shingles or a no-frills fridge -
hopelessly out of date. Winter all of which you can replace in
comes and the furnace doesn't good time. Look out for a furnace
work. The list of disasters goes that doesn't work or leaks carbon
on and on. monoxide, missing shingles and
appliances that don't turn on.
How do you avoid a money pit? They mean immediate repair and
Read our tips to find out. replacement expenditures.
Look beyond dirt and décor Keep an eye out for water damage.
problems.
Unattractive wallpaper, ugly Stains around skylights or on
tiles and dirty carpets are easy ceilings can mean a leaky roof
and relatively inexpensive to and, possibly, water damage to
the structure. Flaking paint floor tiles or parquet that are
around window frames and peeling separating or lifting; doors or
paint in bathrooms are signs of windows that don't shut properly;
moisture problems that could be floors that are crooked (a marble
expensive to fix. And a musty on the ground shouldn't roll);
smell in the basement could mean and leaning walls.
a leaky toilet up above, a main
drain that's clogged or cracked, For more ways to spot a money
or a leaky foundation - all of pit, visit which can be costly and difficult href="http://www.lendingtree.com/
to rectify. cec/yourhome/buying/fixer-upper-v
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Avoid structural problems. title="http://www.lendingtree.com
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The major sign is continuous vs-money-pit.asp"
cracking in the brick or target="_blank">http://www.lendin
foundation. Other symptoms, in gtree.com/cec/yourhome/buying/fix
addition to those listed above: er-upper-vs-money-pit.asp
brick veneer, window frames,
About the Author:
The editorial staff at LendingTree is committed to helping consumers become smarter borrowers. Visit http://www.lendingtree.com/cec for more information and tips on buying, selling, and financing a home. Copyright 1998-2006, LendingTree, LLC.
Source: www.isnare.com
