Just an Older House?

Most people would see this as “just an old house.” We didn’t.

A properly built and well-maintained older home can remain structurally sound for many decades, and that was exactly what our client wanted. They weren’t interested in a new build, or anything particularly new. They specifically wanted an older home with GOOD BONES, perfectly happy to renovate the place during their free time.

We shortlisted this recently renovated but older property, but ultimately decided to walk away.

From a distance, it looked perfectly respectable. Up close, however, we started seeing red flags.

Just One Red Flag - the external walls

Most buyers might notice the unusual brickworks but most will assume that an old opening had simply been patched. On its own, that isn’t necessarily a major concern.

But look closer between the unusual brickworks. Sections of mortar were missing. Some might think whoever patched that, had not bothered to fill it with mortar. But, no. That missing mortar extended beyond the unusual brickworks. It looks like mortar in that section had decayed. This can be associated with long-term moisture problems, weathering or rising damp, where moisture gradually contributes to the deterioration of the mortar between the bricks.

Do we want to actually spend time and money engaging an inspector to check this out? No. Neither did our client. We've got better things to do.

Is it an easy fix?

Well… if you are looking for a quick cosmetic renovation and flip, simply patching some fresh mortar over the affected areas may appear easy enough. But that can be a quick-and-nasty cosmetic fix, rather than addressing the underlying cause.

It might suit a sneaky renovator looking to tidy up a property and move it on quickly. But it is not necessarily what you want in a home you intend to own and live in for many years.

This is also the exact reason why we are particularly cautious when inspecting freshly renovated or flipped properties. Fresh paint and new finishes can make a property look impressive while disguising problems underneath.

Property flippers are in the reno-flip game for a quick buck, and most flippers will do the bare minimal, at the lowest cost, to reap the most benefit.

Fixing deteriorated brickwork properly can be a very different exercise.

Depending on the extent of the damage, the underlying moisture problem, access and the builder’s recommended repair method, remediation can take anywhere from days to several weeks — sometimes longer. This might be an expensive repair. Wall by wall. Brick by brick.

And, of course… we walked away.

Rejected Due to: High-cost Repairs.

It did not meet the needs of this particular buyer. But if our buyer is a property flipper, this could be a very effective site for the flipper.