Red Flags to Watch Out for When Buying a House

Article by Guest Writer: Sally Norton

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​When house-buying, home buyers are sometimes overloaded with various ideas and emotions that they frequently ignore important details when visiting possible houses. Avoid falling in love with a property until you've thoroughly looked into all the specifics and any red flags to watch out for when buying a house. You'll make a better selection and know that your new home is worth every cent if you maintain a calm mind and keep your eyes open.
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Exceptionally Low Cost
There is no more evident property investment red flag than just a price that appears to be too appealing to be true. Often, homeowners dramatically cut their home's listed price since it has been on sale for too long or because they are frantic to sell it. In any case, this might indicate that something is amiss with the property. Before you make any rash financial decisions, believing you've found a deal, have the house properly inspected and try to determine why it is that the estate is priced so low.

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Foundation cracks can be observed on the exterior of a house, within the cellar, or beneath the floors.

Cracks in the foundation
Foundation cracks may be disastrous for a home's future health, and they're a significant red flag that you shouldn't sign on the line. Foundation fractures can be seen on a home's façade, inside the basement, or beneath the floors. Foundation fractures can be produced by a variety of factors, including:

• Poor drainage.
• "Dirt creeps," or improperly compacted soil before building.
• The weather shifts.
• Natural calamities.

Regardless of the origin, certain foundation flaws can be extremely severe. "Structural" fissures, which often form in concrete walls, might jeopardize the stability of a home. They can cause a house to lean or collapse if left unmanaged. Alternatively, "nonstructural" foundation fissures might serve as a haven for rodents or contribute to mold growth underneath a home. While not all foundation cracks impact structural integrity, they nearly always appear unsightly and reduce a home's market value.

Prehistoric Roof
When inspecting a residential home, inspecting the roof is critical. Besides the fact that replacing a roof can cost big bucks, the manufacture and state of a house's roof installation can also have a significant influence on home insurance premiums. Determine the age and condition of the roof before proceeding with the purchase.

Water Impairment
Examine for water leaks in the shape of discoloration, bubbles, or spots when touring a house before making an offer. Water stains on the ground, ceiling, or walls can cause paint discoloration, surface flaws, or hardness, as well as other visual or structural issues. The presence of leaks might ultimately cause holes or fissures in the surfaces or flooring due to degradation or corrosion. Water stains on the outside of a property appear as bubbles below the surface. The stains may suggest that the exterior siding needs to be replaced or has not been properly sealed. Watermarks within the home are also a symptom of a leaking roof or pipes, which may be costly to fix.

Unless you can negotiate a reasonable price with the seller, try to avoid houses with badly old or near-end-of-life plumbing systems. A single water stain isn't usually a cause for concern. Still, we suggest consulting with an expert inspector to verify that what you're seeing isn't an indicator of a broader problem beneath the surface. Skip the next property if it has several water stains – you don't wish to be the one fixing or cleaning away hundreds of water stains throughout your future home! When you finish all the inspections, Golans Moving and Storage experts can help you transfer your belongings. However, even after you have settled in, you should continue to be on the lookout for any signs of water damage.

Strange Odors
No one wishes to reside in a residence that stinks. Unpleasant scents in a house can signal various problems, such as mold infection, water damage, inadequate ventilation, leaking plumbing, and HVAC problems. Not only should unpleasant odors be avoided, but so should excessive pleasant odors, perfumes, or air fresheners. One of the red flags to watch out for when buying a house is if a seller scatters air fresheners and other strong artificial fragrances about the home and may be attempting to conceal foul odors and more significant concerns with the property.​

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One of the red flags to watch out for when buying a house if the seller refuses to allow an inspection

Refusing To Consent to An Inspection
While it's important to explore any concerns arising throughout the process of purchasing a property, another red flag that stands out is when the seller refuses to allow the buyer to do an inspection. Unless you adore the house, this is typically a red indication that you should back out of the sale. Communicate with your real estate professional, ask them for tips on how to avoid real estate scams, and try to arrive at an acceptable solution for all sides, but stay away from bad deals. Pass on the house if you can't meet in the middle. Remember, you'll be purchasing all of its flaws in addition to its charm.

Doors That Refuse to Close
Sometimes when a door doesn't quite close properly, the frame might have moved. Because the main door no longer nicely fits the frame, any potential owner may be required to take a small slice off the top or bottom of the door to force it shut. This can happen due to poor construction, fundamental concerns, weather, and other factors. Before purchasing a new home, inspect each door. If you notice one with a piece of wood chopped off the side, it suggests the homeowner has dealt with this problem in the past.​

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Random fresh coatings around the home should be cause for concern,
regardless of what they're attempting to conceal.

New Paint
Not every freshly painted house has an issue. Renovating is among the most efficient and economical methods to prep a home for sale, so it's common for sellers to put a fresh coat of paint on the walls before advertising their home. On the other hand, fresh paint raises a red signal when only a few walls or sections of the property have been repainted. Why would the vendor repaint just one corner of the area or only part of the ceiling? They may be concealing an issue, such as a wall fault or bleach stains from leakage. Random new paints about the house should be the reason for alarm, whatever they're trying to disguise.

Conclusion
Purchasing a property is among the most important decisions you'll ever make, so be sure you get it correctly. Whether you are a first-time or seasoned home buyer, you should never skip a home inspection. There are several red flags to watch out for when buying a house that you may not be able to identify on your own. Having a licensed home inspection specialist fully evaluate the property will alert you to any difficulties with the property you are about to purchase. Taking care of any significant issues before the sale will save you hundreds of bucks in property insurance and eventual repair bills.

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Sally Norton is a freelance copywriter based out of Miami, with a flare for writing optimized articles. Her experience is focused on moving, travel, real estate and overall guides to help people with some challenging projects and endeavors. In her spare time, Sally enjoys yoga and walks with her dogs - Mane & Rex.