House hunting? Watch out for these signs of a wet basement.

House hunters today find themselves in the midst of an extreme seller’s market. That means there are not enough homes on the market to meet demand and selling prices are driven way over asking price by multiple bidders. The market is so difficult for buyers that many are choosing to forego a home inspection to make their offer more competitive. If this describes you, read on for tips on how to avoid saddling yourself with a beautiful home that requires extensive, expensive repairs.

Smart house hunters facing the dilemma of needing to skip a professional home inspection should prepare themselves to do their own mini inspection as they tour properties. One of the biggest issues to look out for is a wet basement. While a basement with moisture issues isn’t a deal breaker for everyone, it’s important to know what you’re getting yourself into if you choose to purchase a home with these problems.

Depending on the severity of the problem, wet basements can be anything from an occasional nuisance to a major health hazard. Additionally, basement moisture issues do not get better over time, so you will need to invest money right away to address the problem.

Here are five signs of a basement with moisture issues: 

• Musty odor. A wet basement has a particular musty smell that can penetrate carpeting, furniture, and stored items and even invade the rest of your home. As you enter the basement of a home you’re touring, take a few whiffs. If you notice an odor similar to a wet dog or wet fabric that’s been sitting for a while, that’s a sure sign that this basement has a moisture problem.

• Water stains or a water line. Next, take a look at the floors and lower walls of the basement to see if you notice darker patches or a discolored horizontal line. These may be signs of basement moisture. If the basement is finished with drywall, open closets to see if you can find exposed concrete or brick foundation walls and check for water stains there. Many finished basements have at least one part unfinished where signs of water damage could show up.

• Mold growth. A wet basement provides a perfect breeding ground for mold, which can sometimes be dangerous to the health of people living in a home. Mold comes in many different colors and can sometimes be difficult to spot, but black, brown, yellow, or green spots, webbing, or staining on basement walls and floors (check cracks and corners) might indicate mold growth. Mold can be eradicated by a specialist, but to ensure it does not return the basement moisture problem must be fixed.

• Cracks in basement walls. Cracks of any size in a basement wall mean water has an entry point. Depending on the size, cracks can be a DIY fix or may indicate the need to bring in a professional for basement wall repair or foundation repair. Cracked basement walls are something you will want to fix right away as water coming through cracks over time will only make them worse.

• A negative grade around the foundation. Outside the home, take a look at the yard. If the yard slopes down toward the foundation of the home on any side, that home is in serious danger of basement moisture issues. Even if you don’t notice the previously listed signs of basement moisture, if a home has a negative landscape grade around the foundation water will eventually find a way in.

If you are looking for a turnkey home or are at the top of your budget without much room for additional repairs, do not purchase a home with the signs of a wet basement listed above. However, if you’re looking to invest in a fixer-upper and/or have the budget to immediately remedy a wet basement, you may decide to move forward purchasing the (slightly damp) home of your dreams. It all depends on your budget and what you are willing to take on to make a particular home your own.

If you purchase a home with basement moisture issues, or have noticed signs of a wet basement in a property you currently own, call Zablocki Waterproofing. We provide homeowners in Milwaukee, Brookfield, Waukesha, and beyond with expert basement waterproofing, foundation waterproofing, foundation repair, basement repair, and other services. Proudly providing Milwaukee basement waterproofing and Milwaukee foundation repair services for customers just like you – give us a call today.