This 1973 home in Mesa, Arizona looks great at first glance: fresh paint, updated appliances, a modern electrical panel and even a pool you can control from your phone. Once I got into the details, it was clear that DIY upgrades and cosmetic fixes were hiding real safety and maintenance problems.
Outside
- The new paint looks sharp, but it’s covering foundation cracks and places where water can get in.
- The water meter is buried and hard to reach.
- Irrigation is missing anti-siphon devices, and the exposed parts show signs of neglect.
The attic tells the story
- Missing soffit screens, mismatched turbine vents installed incorrectly, and insulation packed in too tight.
- Duct tape on the exhaust vents and a loose AC condensate line.
- PVC pipe breaking down from UV exposure.
- A 50-amp breaker protecting a 40-amp HVAC unit. The breaker is supposed to match what the equipment calls for.
- Exposed wiring at the gutters and light fixtures.
Inside
- Electrical: loose outlets, no GFCI protection near sinks, ungrounded wiring and exposed wiring at the touch faucet.
- Safety: no carbon monoxide detectors near the bedrooms.
- Bathrooms: shower valves that don’t work, and shower water hitting a window that faces the garage.
- Kitchen: a duct-taped pipe, a flex drain trap that clogs easily, a dishwasher drain without a proper high loop, and a microwave fan that blows right back into the room.
The sewer line
There were no cleanouts I could find, so I ran the sewer camera down through the roof vent. The line had moderate grease buildup. Nothing alarming yet, but it’s due for a hydro-jet cleaning.
What buyers of older Mesa homes should know
Homes from the 1970s often have decades of owner repairs layered on top of each other. Updated finishes don’t tell you whether the wiring, plumbing and attic were done right. A home can look move-in ready and still need a licensed electrician before you move in. That’s what an inspection is for.
Watch the full inspection
See every finding in the video above, or watch it on YouTube. Buying in Mesa or the East Valley? Book your inspection online or call 623-399-0079.
Property Inspections Plus is a Gilbert, AZ home inspection company led by Certified Master Inspector Dan Pierce. We inspect homes across the East Valley, the Phoenix metro and the rest of Arizona. See all of our service areas.
