Often I share tips on how to prepare for and purchase a home, but I've never shared tips on some things to look out for when shopping for a home such as red flags.
No you're not an inspector or an expert, but while you're looking at different homes you can still look for certain red flags yourself. When you're looking for your dream home, this is the time for you to play your own inspector gadget so that way you can make the right decision when purchasing. Just like cars, nobody wants to buy a house for a lemon either. Like I said in a previous post, you don't want to end up with a "Money Pit" and if you haven't seen that movie starring Tom Hanks and Shelly Long, you need to find it on Amazon Prime and you'll see what I mean.
RELATED: 9 Tips for First Time Homebuyers
Here are a list of red flags to watch for when searching for your dream home.
Water Stains Water stains can be an indication of something going on with the roof, more than likely leaks. Always check for water spots on the ceiling and even water lines running down the walls. This means there's something going on with the roof and it either needs to be repaired or may have been repaired in the past for leaks, but they haven't painted the ceiling to get the color back.
Cracks If you see cracks on the ceiling, walls and even the floors, this could be a sign that something is truly wrong with the house and most likely with the foundation. Foundation cracks are detrimental to a house and you don't want those problems.
Doors That Won't Close This could mean the house isn't settled or possible foundation issues and more. It could also mean there's something going on with the door frame and they may be uneven, etc.
Old HVAC Ask the seller when was the last time they had their HVAC system serviced and/or replaced. This can be a really costly replacement upon first moving in. Something you don't want to have to deal with for many, many years after purchasing your home.
Random Fresh Paint If you're walking through a house and all of a sudden just see a random fresh coat of paint either a spot of paint or maybe even an entire wall, this may be a sign that something is wrong and the seller is trying to cover it up. Could be a minor or major problem. Either way, be sure to inquire to see if they truthfully answer, but I would just keep it moving at this point.
Pests Watch out for bugs hanging around the house. Be sure to ask seller if they have pest control and/or have the home treated for termites. Be sure to have the house inspected for termites as well.
Bad Odor This might seem minor, but could be hard to get rid of an odor and might be a sign of rotten wood, pests, poor house tidiness, etc.
Hope this helps you all on what to look for in a home.
Happy House Hunting!
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