Ask a Wahi REALTOR®: How To Tell If a Home Has Years of Deferred Maintenance

A home may show well, but beneath the surface big issues may be lurking. Here are seven tell-tale signs of deferred maintenance that homebuyers should watch out for. 

By Josh Sherman | 2 minute read

Homeownership has so many benefits in Canada it’s practically like having a super power.

Homeowners build equity. For Canadian families, real estate equity accounted for 42% of total household wealth, according to 2023 data from Statistics Canada. (The national statistical agency also found that as of Q1 2026, the value of household residential real estate reached a staggering $8.47 trillion.) But it’s not just about the money. Homeowners also get the final say on any changes or improvements to the property — no permission from a landlord required — and they can rest assured that they won’t be evicted or face a rent hike. And, of course, there’s a sense of accomplishment in joining the ranks of homeowners in Canada, a country where roughly two-thirds of the population are owners and societal expectations around ownership are strong. In fact, Wahi’s 2025 Homebuying Pressure Point Survey found that the majority of millennials have been pressured to buy at one time or another.

However, with great power comes great responsibility — and homeownership has more than its share of it. Maintaining a property takes time and money. Canadians spend an average of  $5,448 annually on household operations and another $2,486 for household equipment, according to survey results from Statistics Canada. Yet not every homeowner is able (or, in some cases, willing) to invest the necessary resources into their property. Sometimes, this results in years and years of deferred maintenance. “Some may be minor and cosmetic in nature. Others may affect safety, property value and ultimately be expensive to remedy,” says Wahi Broker of Record Anne Alkok.

Inevitably, if you’re in the market for a home and attend enough showings, you’ll encounter properties that have deferred maintenance. These neglected repairs will need to be addressed sooner or later, potentially at considerable cost. The trouble is: deferred maintenance may not always be obvious. It’s even possible that the current owners aren’t aware of the exact state of their home. That’s why it’s important to look for homebuyers to keep an eye out for any sign that a home has years of deferred maintenance.

Here are seven tell-tale signs of deferred maintenance that homebuyers should watch out for. 

1. Water Damage Is Visible

Water damage is one of the most common (and obvious) signs of deferred maintenance. Tell-tale signs include the obvious — warped flooring, mould, cracked plaster, discolouration and on ceilings or walls, musty smells — as well as more subtle indicators, such as creaky floors. When attending a showing, look under area rugs and, if possible, behind furniture. And don’t forget to bring along Wahi’s Home Showing Checklist for Buyers. 

2. Shoddy DIY Work 

Deferred maintenance can also take the form of attempted do-it-yourself repairs or superficial band-aid fixes. Fresh paint in specific places — rather than a new coat on all of the walls for staging — is one potential red flag. Newly epoxied garage floors could be an attempt to mask foundational cracks. In extreme cases, a shoddy job could present danger — say the current homeowner has tried doing their own electrical work. Check for exposed wires and anything that resembles a patchwork solution.

3. Old or Noisy HVAC Systems

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems need to be maintained and, eventually, replaced during a home’s life cycle. Depending on the system, warranties can range anywhere from five up to 20 years. Systems that show serious signs of aging — strange or loud noises are a dead giveaway — suggest deferred maintenance.

4. Neglected Landscaping

Overgrown, unkept, or messy landscaping may not seem like a big deal — after all, who really likes doing yard work? However, neglected landscaping outside the home may foreshadow more of the same inside. Take a look around the property and also note the condition of the pavement and walkways.

5. Old Appliances, Fixtures, and Finishes

In and of itself, old appliances, fixtures, and finishes aren’t a problem. However, their presence can signal that the home is in need of some work. The kitchen doesn’t need to have stainless-steel everything, but if the fridge is older than you are, be on the lookout for deferred maintenance elsewhere in the home. Similar to landscaping, if the appliances haven’t been replaced in a long time, it begs the question: what else hasn’t been done?

6. Special Assessments

If you’re in the market for a condo, a special assessment should be a big red flag. “A special assessment is an extra one-time charge added to the owners’ common expenses fees that condo corporations may use to cover shortfalls in their yearly budgets,” according to the Condominium Authority of Ontario, a non-for-profit consumer-protection agency. “Corporations generally rely on special assessments to cover single events that impact their finances, such as being involved in expensive litigation,” the authority notes. While a special assessment could be a one-off, it may call into question the management or building quality of the condo. In Ontario, prospective condo buyers should request a status certificate before purchasing a unit. The status certificate, which the owner must provide, contains essential information about the unit, including special assessments.

7. The Home Inspection Reveals Issues

“A good home inspection will help identify maintenance issues that have been deferred by the seller before they become the buyer’s responsibility,” says Alkok, who recommends homebuyers pay for a home inspection prior to closing. “It’s money well spent.”