What to consider when selling a home with plumbing problems in Boston
When you have issues with your plumbing system, your home sale could be harder than it needs to be. There’s nothing worse than planning to list your home only to find out that you have a host of issues that you probably need to address first. When you’re selling a home with plumbing issues, it’s important to know how to spot signs of plumbing problems in your home, what you can do about them, and how you can sell a house without making repairs.
How can you tell if you have plumbing issues?
Exterior signs of issues:
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Outside pipe/sewer line damage: Older pipes are made of cast iron or clay, and many are past their useful life if they haven’t been replaced. Tree roots can also cause problems with pipes by growing into them and causing blockages. You can prevent expensive problems by having your pipes scoped by a professional every so often.
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Water heater issues: Hard water and other impurities in your water heater can lead to buildup and cause improper function and bigger issues. Since they are often located in the garage, basement, crawlspace, or attic of the home, leaks can cause significant damage to your sheetrock, floors, etc.
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Frozen/burst pipes: You can have big issues with broken pipes, both indoors and outdoors. A leaking hose bib is one sign of having problematic pipes.
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Natural gas lines: Leaks can cause water from soil or rain to enter your pipes and lead to significant issues. They are also a big fire hazard. You may see standing water on your lawn, which is a sign that you may have an issue.
Interior signs of issues:
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Clogged pipes: Cooking grease, hair, and non-flushable items all can clog your drain pipes.
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Water changes: Low water pressure or a spike in your water bill with no change in usage can indicate a leak.
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Sump pump problems: Your sump pump limits flooding in your basement or crawlspace. It can stop working for a variety of reasons, including incorrect installation, clogs, rapid water accumulation, and electrical power failure.
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Bubbling paint on walls or ceiling: If you see bubbling paint on your walls or ceiling, it could indicate a water leak that you aren’t able to see. It may be related to your plumbing or indicate a roof or gutter leak.
What to do about your plumbing problems
Water issues can lead to a host of other problems, including:
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Damage and rot: Water can cause foundation cracks, rotten wood, and rusting pipes if left untreated.
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Mold and foul odors: If left untreated, water can become a host for bacteria or a breeding ground for mold growth.
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Pests: Rats, mice, and mosquitoes love dark, damp areas. Not only are they difficult to get rid of, but they also carry many diseases.
If you don’t fix your plumbing problems in time, they can lead to more issues later. Leaking pipes can cause paint damage and problems from standing water. Damaged sewer lines can cause destructive backups.
If you’re trying to pay for water damage repair through insurance, you should look into what type of policy you have. Most homeowners insurance policies only cover sudden and accidental water damage such as burst pipes and appliance leaks. If you are trying to get your insurance company to pay for repairs, it’s important to file a claim as soon as possible.
Do you have to disclose plumbing issues to a buyer?
Disclosure is an important part of the home-selling process. A Seller’s Disclosure Notice will include any of the home’s conditions or features, including the history of inspections and repairs, that are known by the seller. If you have fixed any of your water issues, you should keep your receipts for disclosure.
Disclosure laws vary by state. In Massachusetts, the law does not require sellers to provide a disclosure form or statement to buyers. Only the presence of lead paint and the condition of the septic system have to be disclosed. However, it would still be in your best interest to provide full disclosure to any potential buyers. If you sell your Boston house on the traditional market, most buyers will have a home inspection conducted before purchase, and any issues that are found can potentially derail your sale. If your buyer needs financing, a home appraisal will uncover anything that wasn’t disclosed. Providing disclosure will also prevent you from dealing with any legal troubles later down the road.
How to sell your Boston house with plumbing issues
We Buy Ugly Houses® is here for you when you’re selling a home with plumbing problems. We buy houses and other types of property in many different conditions, so we aren’t concerned with clogged pipes or water-heater issues. If you decide that the hassle of making repairs is too much, you can sell your house “as is” to We Buy Ugly Houses, home buyers in Boston who care.
We’re known as America’s #1 home buyer*, and for the past 25 years we’ve been in the business of helping homeowners with our 3-step home-buying process. We can go from our free consultation to closing the sale fast, sometimes in as little as 3 weeks! If you’d like more time, we’ll do our best to work with you to come up with a schedule that suits your needs.
Here at We Buy Ugly Houses®, we don’t charge additional hidden fees. We also pay all typical closing costs. However, our offers are below market value in exchange for speed and convenience.
Ready to say goodbye to your plumbing or other house headaches? Reach out to We Buy Ugly Houses® today to get in touch with one of our local property specialists in Boston for our free consultation and a fast offer.
*Based on the number of houses purchased compared to other franchise-based home-buying companies.
This blog is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice.
