10 Red Flags to Look For When Buying a Home

It’s very common that buyers feel overwhelmed with emotions before purchasing a home. However, being overwhelmed with feelings is a great way to overlook something in the home before you close the deal. There are certain things that the buyer should be looking for such as: age of the roof, basement, hot water heater, and furnace are just a couple examples. Also, buyers need to be aware of red flags. Red flags can definitely steer a buyer away from a home, depending on how severe they are. Continue reading on to find out what 10 red flags you need to be looking for during your home tour.

1. Potential Foundation & Structure Problems: The foundation of a home is by far the most important part of the structure. A problematic foundation can potentially cost a new homeowner thousands of dollar to repair.
2. Pest & Insect Problems: Depending on the area of your home, pest and insect problems can be a real problem. Wood eating pests can cause damage to a house and cost thousands of dollars to rectify.
3. Random Fresh Paint: Some relators suggest randomly painting a wall to cover up damage prior to a home visit. Therefore it is highly important to look out for freshly painted walls during your visit due to potential damage reasons
4. Amateur Workmanship & Repairs: Although there are many people who can fix anything within their home by themselves, there are also amateur workers. It is important to look at any appliances around the house to be sure they work correctly. Especially take time to look at electrical, plumbing, and carpentry projects.
5. Odors: It’s not uncommon that a homeowner becomes immune to a foul odor.  Foul odors are one of the easiest ways that a seller can kill a home sale.  When looking at homes, pleasant odors and foul odors can both be red flags.
6. Poor Overall Neighborhood Condition: It is important for buyers to take into account the land the house is sitting on prior to purchasing. Considering the overall neighborhood condition is crucial due to crime problems, cleanliness, etc.
7. Stains On Walls or Ceilings: If there are stains on a wall or ceiling in the home, it’s important to find out what has caused these stains.  It’s possible the stains are from a prior problem that has been corrected.  Not investigating a stain on a wall or ceiling can cost a buyer thousands of dollars in repairs in the future.
8. Electrical System Problems: Depending on the age of a home, it’s possible there are issues with the electrical systems.  Inadequate or electrical issues need to be viewed as a red flag for a buyer.
9. Poor Drainage: Water is something that every homeowner should be aware of but also terrified of. If a house has a water problem, it’s most likely due to inadequate drainage or grading.
10. Mold: Similar to water problems, mold should raise a big red flag when viewing a home. Mold problems cannot only lead to health problems, but also actual damage to a home.