7 Big Home-Buying Deal Breakers

Large, gaping cracks in the concrete or block basement walls can indicate structural problems from the house shifting on its foundation. The house is probably settling, which means it's sinking in the ground due to poor soil conditions or water not draining properly away from the home. Hairline cracks that are confined to a small area are common in older homes and don't necessarily spell trouble, but wide cracks?especially if they're large enough to stick your fingers in?are a sign of trouble.

Nick Gromicko, founder of InterNACHI, the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, says that if the house has shifted or is sinking, you'll also find cracks in the upstairs walls, particularly over windows and doors, and some windows and doors probably won't open or close correctly. He adds that long horizontal cracks in the basement walls can mean there has been frost heaving, which is caused by water in the soil freezing and thawing, thereby expanding and contracting, which can cause the footings to move and eventually fail.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/improvement/7-big-home-buying-deal-breakers?src=rss

PS4 iOS 7 tim tebow Mac Pro Kingdom Hearts 3 miami heat Xbox 360