{"id":6750,"date":"2024-11-04T17:53:31","date_gmt":"2024-11-04T15:53:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/most-common-hidden-defects-purchase-house-or-apartment\/"},"modified":"2024-11-04T17:53:31","modified_gmt":"2024-11-04T15:53:31","slug":"most-common-hidden-defects-purchase-house-or-apartment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/en\/most-common-hidden-defects-purchase-house-or-apartment\/","title":{"rendered":"Most common hidden defects purchase house or apartment"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Hidden defects when buying a house or apartment are expensive and cause a lot of hassle. Discover here the most common hidden defects and how to recognize them. <\/em><\/p>\n<h2>1. <strong>Hidden defects related to structure and foundation<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Uneven floors or subsidence: May indicate foundation problems or serious water problems.<\/li>\n<li>Cracks in walls or ceilings: May indicate structural problems or subsidence of the foundation.<\/li>\n<li>Poor condition of the load-bearing walls (e.g., rust at the reinforcement): This can affect the stability of the building.<\/li>\n<li>Subsidence or cracks in the foundation: Usually visible as cracks in floors or walls and may indicate problems with the foundation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>2. Moisture problems<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Leaks, especially in kitchens, bathrooms and near roofs: Beware of water damage in this regard.<\/li>\n<li>Moisture patches low on the wall: Indicates rising moisture from groundwater migrating up the walls.<\/li>\n<li>Dampness or mold: Usually caused by poorly insulated roofs, walls or facades or poorly ventilated areas such as bathrooms and basements.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>3. Roof problems<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Worn or broken roof tiles: Can cause leakage.<\/li>\n<li>Clogged or leaking gutters: Leads to water accumulation and moisture problems in the facade.<\/li>\n<li>Poor insulation: A poorly insulated roof causes heat loss and higher energy costs.<\/li>\n<li>Poor roof structure (e.g., holes): An unstable roof structure can sag, leading to large and urgent costs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>4. <strong>Hidden defects related to electricity<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Missing grounding: Buildings without a grounding device can be dangerous during power outages.<\/li>\n<li>Outdated wiring: This may be a safety hazard and may not meet the current standard.<\/li>\n<li>Poor quality of switches and outlets: May indicate poor maintenance or outdated installations.<\/li>\n<li>Overloading groups in the meter box: Used outlets and overloaded groups can cause malfunctions and short circuits.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4389\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4389\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-4389\" src=\"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Verborgen-gebreken_Versleten-stopcontacten-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Hidden defects_Worn outlets\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Verborgen-gebreken_Versleten-stopcontacten-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Verborgen-gebreken_Versleten-stopcontacten-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Verborgen-gebreken_Versleten-stopcontacten-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Verborgen-gebreken_Versleten-stopcontacten-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Verborgen-gebreken_Versleten-stopcontacten.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4389\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image: worn out outlets<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>5. Plumbing and plumbing<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Leaking faucets or showers: Can lead to water damage and higher water bills.<\/li>\n<li>Clogs: Old pipes or poorly constructed drainage systems can clog quickly.<\/li>\n<li>Leaking pipes: Usually in kitchens and bathrooms, which can lead to water damage and mold.<\/li>\n<li>Outdated water heaters or hot water systems: Inefficient and old water heaters can fail and cause heat loss.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>6. Heating and ventilation<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Old heating system: Can be inefficient and leads to higher heating costs and maintenance.<\/li>\n<li>Poor insulation in heating pipes: This causes heat loss in unused rooms.<\/li>\n<li>Poor or no ventilation: Especially in damp rooms such as bathrooms and kitchens, which promotes mold.<\/li>\n<li>Faulty thermostats or radiators: Can cause erratic heating and additional energy consumption.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>7. Isolation<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Poor floor insulation: Especially in homes with basements.<\/li>\n<li>Aging windows: Single-glazed or poorly insulated windows can lose a lot of heat and cause moisture problems.<\/li>\n<li>Inadequate cavity wall insulation: Without adequate cavity wall insulation, heat loss occurs, leading to higher energy costs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>8. Joinery and finishing<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Irregularities, cracks or damage to walls and floors.<\/li>\n<li>Wood rot in windows and doors: Wooden window frames can rot with inadequate maintenance.<\/li>\n<li>Loose plaster: Especially in old homes, an indication of moisture problems or poor insulation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>9. Other hidden defects<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Asbestos: Often present in old buildings, especially in roofs, pipes and insulation materials. So be sure to check the official <a href=\"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/het-verplichte-asbestattest\/\">asbestos certificate<\/a>. <\/li>\n<li>Pests: Termites, woodworm or mice can take up residence in old buildings and cause damage. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/ongedierte-bestrijden-dankzij-praktische-tips\/\">Read how to control each pest here<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Property boundaries and building codes: Problems with property boundaries or existing structures that do not meet building codes can cause legal complications.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p> <figure id=\"attachment_4388\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4388\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-4388\" src=\"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Verborgen-gebreken_Bouwplannen-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Hidden defects_Building plans\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Verborgen-gebreken_Bouwplannen-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Verborgen-gebreken_Bouwplannen-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Verborgen-gebreken_Bouwplannen-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Verborgen-gebreken_Bouwplannen-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Verborgen-gebreken_Bouwplannen.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4388\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image: building plans<\/figcaption><\/figure>&nbsp; Sources: <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.immoweb.be\/nl\/kopen\/checklist-aankoop-woning-verborgen-gebreken\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Immoweb<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.verborgen-gebreken.com\/gebreken\/meest-voorkomende-verborgen-gebreken\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hidden Defects<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Would you like to cite this article as a source? Then use: <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em>Stiasteny, L. (2024, Nov. 4). Most common hidden defects purchase house or apartment. Apartment.com. Accessed on (date XX\/XX\/202X), from https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/meest-voorkomende-verborgen-gebreken   <\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Related articles:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/checklist-voor-bezichtiging-huis-of-appartement\/\">Checklist for viewing a house or apartment<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/het-verplichte-asbestattest\/\">The asbestos certificate according to the legislation<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/ongedierte-bestrijden-dankzij-praktische-tips\/\">Pest control: Practical tips by animal<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hidden defects when buying a house or apartment are expensive and cause a lot of hassle. Discover here the most common hidden defects and how to recognize them. 1. Hidden defects related to structure and foundation Uneven floors or subsidence: May indicate foundation problems or serious water problems. Cracks in walls or ceilings: May indicate [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":6436,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1150],"tags":[1761,1760,1759,1758],"class_list":["post-6750","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-inspiration-en","tag-defects-apartment","tag-house-defects","tag-most-common-hidden-defects-apartment","tag-most-common-hidden-defects-house"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6750","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6750"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6750\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6436"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6750"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6750"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.appartement.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6750"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}