Many people looking to buy homes are okay with purchasing a fixer-upper property if they are getting it at a lower price. A cursory inspection may lead them to believe that the only thing the house needs is some minor carpentry work and maybe a fresh coat of paint and some other cosmetic enhancements.

While many prospective property owners hire professional building and pest inspectors to inspect the property for structural faults and pest infestations, many feel the additional expense to be a burden. But this can prove to be a big mistake.

There are times when a property will have significant faults and problems that cannot be identified by a simple visual inspection by you or a novice inspector. There are certain common problems that older properties have, such as: