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Where to Check for Water Damage Before You Buy a Home

Even though you see a water stain on the ceiling or a small puddle under the kitchen sink and shrug it off as nothing a coat of paint and a paper towel cannot fix, water stains and puddles can be signs of much bigger problems. Knowing the signs of water damage before you look into buying a home can save you time and money in the end.

Kitchens and bathrooms are the most likely locations of water damage and should be inspected from top to bottom. When looking at potential homes, look closely at areas that may lend to water damage. In the kitchen inspect under all sinks for leaking faucets or loose connections to the dishwashers, as well as around and behind the refrigerator if equipped with ice and water dispensers or an icemaker. Look under the bathroom sinks for water stains in the vanity or at the base of a pedestal sink, as well as around the base of the toilet for standing water or loose connections from the wall.

Washing machines, water heaters and faulty sump pumps also are common sources of water damage. The floor beneath a washing machine or water heater should be level, free of stains and any other sign of damage such as weak boards. Sump pumps are intended to save homeowners from dealing with water damage but unfortunately unless the home has a battery-operated back-up sump pump it could have failed during a power outage and easily have led to water damage. Inspect the walls surrounding the sump pump for signs of water damage, if the room or basement has been flooded or had enough water to cause damage you may be able to see evidence of this near the floor around the baseboard.

Look at the ceilings and near the floor in all of the rooms in the house. While the refrigerator in the kitchen may be responsible for the water issue beginning, the living room may have paid the price too. Second floor water sources often cause water damage to the ceilings and walls in the lower level rooms.

For more information and tips on choosing the right home in the Northern Virginia area, contact Buckman Realtor. Representing W.C. & A.N. Miller and Christie's Great Estates in Chevy Chase, Capitol Hill and the Trinidad DC neighborhood, Buckman can assist you with purchasing the home of your dreams. Michelle Buckman is a licensed Realtor in Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia.