All homeowners and potential homeowners want to avoid that “oh no!” moment where after moving in, you realize that you or your inspector may have missed something crucial, and the “oh no, what do we do now?” moments occur. Those are usually followed by “Oh no, this is going to cost us a lot of money” moments.

Of your own accord, do some checking and inspecting of your own in these particular areas:

Are the floors cupping?

Wood floors that are cupped or are cupping (where the edges of the slats curve upwards0 are an indication of excess moisture most likely occurring in the crawl space.

Moisture can mean mold, which is a problem you don’t want a house you’re considering to have.

Any staining or mold growth

Check the ceilings, the walls, where the chimney sits; look around the windows and in areas prone to moisture like bathrooms.

Check the windows

Typically on the perimeter of the house, look for any warping, rot or caulking. Check to see if there’s any condensation or moisture on glass.

Look at the vent grills

Is there rust on the vent grills? That’s another indication of moisture, and a sign that the HVAC system is not functioning properly, where it’s either too big or too small.

Check the tiles in the bathroom

Are they in place or are they loose? If the bathroom tile is loose, there’s a leak somewhere.

If there’s one thing wrong with that house, there’s many things wrong with that house so don’t et distracted by the ornate details like crown molding, and look at the entire space. When in doubt, ask your inspector and your realtor – they’re working for you, everything should be done in your best interest and remember: There are no stupid questions when looking for a new home.