You dive into the housing market, start searching, and find the house of your dreams. But lo and behold, it needs extensive renovations. This should not be a deal-breaker by any means, but this also does not mean you should jump in with both feet. When looking at whether you want to build a custom house, there are certain things to look at regarding whether such an investment would be worthwhile. Below are tips that will assist you in deciding if the fixer upper you found can indeed by transformed into the dream home you hope it will be.

1. Foundation

The foundation is what the house stands on so it is crucial that you determine that it is in good shape before purchasing the home. During the house inspection look for signs of water leaking into the basement. If there are white marks on the walls or water stains on the basement floor, this is consistent with foundation issues. If you are still interested in purchasing the house even knowing that there are foundation issues, hire a professional to inspect the foundation and give you a quote to fix it. You may be surprised to find the repairs are not as much as you anticipated or well within your budget you have for renovations.

2. Plumbing

Checking the plumbing in the house you are considering before you buy is important to prevent issues later on. Inspect all pipes, toilets, and sinks for leaks. Flush each toilet and make sure they fill back up again. Check around each toilet base and if the floor feels soft this may be indicative of a leak that will need to be addressed. Check the water pressure and temperature of all bathtubs. If the water does not get hot enough there may be an issue with the water heater. Weak pressure may be the result of mineral build-up on the fixtures or issues with the water pipes that draw water into the home such as inadequate size or clogs preventing enough water from getting through.

3. Chimney

The chimney of a home is very important because it provides the ventilation for gases and smoke from your furnace or fireplace but a house inspection will not always certify that it is in good shape. Inspect the physical condition of the chimney itself. Cracks and crumbling can eventually lead to the chimney falling down altogether. Have a professional inspect the chimney liner to determine if any cracks are present. These cracks can allow smoke into the house. The presence of creosote, a black material that is the result of incomplete combustion, is normal but it is extremely flammable and could result in a chimney fire that may spread to the rest of the house. If you end up purchasing the house, clean the chimney regularly and inspect at the beginning and end of fireplace season.

4. Asbestos and mold

People looking to buy a home should be very cautious of purchasing a home with either asbestos or mold. Asbestos causes serious respiratory issues if their fibers are inhaled. Older homes are known to have asbestos in them because it was very common to use it as insulation. Sometimes damp environments can lead to a house growing mold and this can cause maladies such as headaches, lung infections, throat irritation, and cancer. Asbestos or mold should not be deal-breakers if present in a home you are buying, but it can be extremely costly as removal of both need to be done by professionals. The seller of the home must disclose the presence of either and must show proof once removed.