Many flipped Columbia SC houses are houses that have gone through foreclosure or a short sale, have been purchased by an investor, some cosmetic repairs made, then put back on the market for unsuspecting home buyers to fall into.

If you're thinking about looking at flipped Columbia SC houses as an option to find a good deal, there are some things you need to do and look for in order not to get ripped off in the process.

Being in the business of seeing and showing a lot of homes, we can testify to the fact that a vast majority of flipped Columbia SC houses are just plain shoddy homes that have been covered with a layer of makeup. Always, always, always — get a home inspection on any home you plan to purchase, especially flipped Columbia SC houses, which tend to be more risky. The price of a home inspection is small compared to the price you might end up paying for some major home repair. Do yourself a favor, don't skip the home inspection.

Selling Columbia SC homes isn't cut and dry these days. With fewer numbers of homes on the market, buyers are easily scared off if they encounter problems that may negatively impact resale value. Among the many negative issues that need to be addressed in order to make a house more marketable in the future are foundation problems. They rank near the top of the list.

If you're among those "very few" currently selling Columbia SC homes right now, you should have already made sure that the property is competitive with similar properties in the area. A little dampness in the basement or a small drywall crack are flaws that a potential buyer may be willing to overlook, but a cracked or bowed foundation wall will be a major red flag. Since the sale of most Columbia SC homes are contingent on a satisfactory home inspection, foundation problems are very likely to stop a home sale dead in its tracks.

Some Foundation Problems Are Obvious

Some foundation problems are obvious. Columbia SC homes with cracks, leaning chimneys and bowing basement walls, for example. But there are other symptoms that may signal a settling or shifting foundation. Windows or doors can be racked by a shifting foundation and become difficult to open and close. Drywall cracks that extend from the corners of windows and doors are another telltale sign.

As surprising as it seems, newer Columbia SC homes may be just as likely to have foundation problems as older ones.

Home Improvements vs. Home Repairs

In today's economy, it's understandable for homeowners to put off home improvements until they feel more financially secure. But it's important to make a distinction between basic "feel-good" improvements (like painting a room or installing shelving) and repairs that correct safety issues or prevent a problem from getting worse. Fixing damaged foundations in Columbia SC homes definitely falls into the "must-do" category.

It's risky to put off fixing a damaged foundation. If a crack starts to enlarge or a wall starts to buckle, you're seeing a failure that is probably going to get worse. The longer you wait, the more extensive the problem becomes and the more expensive the repair is going to be.

Specialty Contractors For Foundation Problems

The good news about foundation problems is that most of them can be corrected, as long as the contractor has the training, tools and materials to do so. Many local remodeling contractors only temporarily fix cosmetic problems, but are unable to permanently solve the problem. Do your homework if you have serious foundation problems and be sure to hire an expert who is trained in doing the job right.

For other things to be aware of regarding home inspections, check out our other articles pertaining to Columbia SC Home Inspections under the Columbia SC Real Estate Categories to your right.

You found the perfect Columbia SC home, your offer was accepted by the seller, and now it is Columbia SC home inspection time!

Home inspections are very important during the home buying process. Your certified home inspector is quite skilled at discovering underlying problems with a structure.

If at all possible, make sure you are present with the inspector when he or she is going over the house. Inspectors are great at explaining all of the little features of the house, especially when it comes to the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.

Learn Where Things Are During Your Columbia SC Home Inspection

In addition to any problems your inspector may discover, he or she will also be able to show you where your water shut off valves are located. Knowing where your shut off valves are located is extremely important in case one of your plumbing fixtures, or pipes, suddenly sprouts a leak. For example, if your dishwasher ever decides to start flooding your floor you will know exactly where to go, and what to do, to turn the water off and minimize the water damage.

If your inspector does find a problem with the home you are buying, they usually have several ideas on how to correct the situation. If there are only a few problems and they are relatively minor, you may elect to correct the problems yourself after you move in. If your inspector finds a major problem, you may need to discuss this at length with your real estate agent. Regardless of whether any items are minor or major, your home inspector will give you a detailed report of all of the problems, and potential problems, they discovered during the home inspection process.

What Happens After Your Columbia SC Home Inspection

A major problem with the home is usually addressed in a repair addendum. The repair addendum is simply a list of defects that were discovered during the inspection process. The addendum is written up by the buyers' real estate agent and signed by the buyer. The repair addendum is then delivered to the seller's real estate agent who delivers and discusses the addendum with the seller.

At this point, the buyer waits for a brief time, usually a day or two, while the seller considers whether to make the requested repairs, refuse to make the requested repairs, or offer money off of the price of the Columbia SC home, if the buyer will accept the house as it is. In most cases you can come to some type of arrangement with the seller regarding any problems you discovered in the house.

Occasionally, there is some sort of problem with the house that seems overwhelming to both the buyer and the seller.  If no mutually agreeable compromise can be reached, the buyer usually has the option of walking away from the house and ending the contract of sale. Hopefully, this does not happen to you.

Buying a Columbia SC house is an exciting adventure and a huge financial investment. Unless there is some underlying circumstance that prevents it, always get a home inspection of any improved real estate you are considering buying. The price of a home inspection is miniscule when compared to the price of a new roof, or some other major home repair. Do yourself a favor, don't skip the home inspection.

For more Columbia SC home inspection tips, visit the Columbia SC Home Inspections section of our website to your right.

Columbia SC home buyers usually make offers to buy a home contingent on inspecting the property to their satisfaction. A Columbia SC home inspection contingency gives buyers permission to inspect the property and can give the buyers the right to withdraw from the contract without penalty, depending on how the contract is written.

For this reason, and to help sellers make accurate disclosures about their property, sellers often choose to have pre-sale inspection reports done before they put their home on the market. Minimally, they order a “wood-destroying pests and organisms” inspection (loosely referred to as a “termite” inspection) and a home inspection.

Columbia SC Home Inspection Recommendations

If your Columbia SC home inspection recommends having an old roof inspected by a roofing contractor, it’s a good idea to follow through with this, and any other similar recommendation. Any pre-sale inspections should be made available to buyers to review before they make an offer.

While some sellers ask why they should pay for a pre-sale inspection when buyers are going to pay for another one of their own, it is important for the buyer to know as much as possible about the home before they even get to the point of making an offer. A seller pre-sale inspection report can give the potential buyer the confidence they need to even make an offer.

This results in an offer from educated buyers who are less likely to withdraw from the contract or renegotiate the price than they would be if they didn’t have pertinent information about the property condition before they made the offer.

Columbia SC home inspection findings can be somewhat subjective. For example, one inspector may say a window can be repaired, while the other says it needs to be replaced. One solution would be for the sellers to credit the repair cost to the buyers at closing. The buyers can decide whether to repair the window or use the credit as partial payment for a new one.

Bottom Line: Don’t let a Columbia SC home inspection kill your home sale unnecessarily.