House of horrors?

That house with “character” could turn out to be a house of repair horrors. Here are the subtle signs the house you love is going to cost you more than just the purchase price.
Burning smells

“Some burning smells are harmless and very common, especially when you turn the heat on, but others are more concerning,” says Richard Ciresi, owner of an air conditioning maintenance company. “An electrical burning odour could indicate an overheated blower motor, which could mean mechanical problems or frayed electrical wiring in your heater.” Other odours like a gunpowder-like aroma could be from a fried circuit board or motor fan. Pungent smells from the air conditioning vents generally signal the air conditioner wire insulation is fried. “All other types of burning heater smells are potentially dangerous, expensive to fix, and demand inspection from a qualified heating technician,” says Ciresi.
These are the 10 things most people forget to look for when inspecting a home for sale.
Windows that won’t open

If the windows don’t open, stick, or are drafty, the only thing you’ll be opening is your wallet – to pay for a houseful of new windows. “As structures shift and settle over time, insulation, caulking and other protective materials slowly lose their protective powers, such as older homes leaking air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter,” says Larry Patterson, of Glass Doctor. A house full of warped or damaged windows comes with a hefty replacement price tag. Replacing windows in an old house is probably a job you want to pay a pro to do.
Learn the 11 secrets all contractors wish first-home buyers knew about.