Items Buyers Should Be Cautious Of

 

 

When you’re in the market to buy a home, it’s important to look past all of the glitz and glamour to see if there are any deficiencies. Today I’ll share a few of the red flags that you need to keep an eye out for:

 

1. Scented plug-ins. Scented plug-ins can indicate that the owner is masking some kind of smell, which might bear investigating a little further. They could be trying to cover up the smell of mold, for example.

 

2. Tilted house. If you walk into a house and can feel that the floors might be a little bit off, it could indicate a foundational issue. Take a look at the brick and mortar and around the windows on the outside of the house to see if there has been any significant shifting evidenced by open or patched-up cracks.

 

3. Water damage. Check in the basement and around the exterior of the house for signs of water damage. In a finished basement, even if it looks clean, there may be mold under the carpets. Look at the grading of the yard to see if it has been done properly to lead water away from the foundations, as well as any downspouts to make sure they’re not dumping water right by your home.

 

4. Mold. Water damage can make wood rot and cause mold to proliferate. A specialist should be contacted in case mold is found, as that’s a major health issue.

 

5. Cosmetic enhancements. Fresh paint in the basement or on the foundation, for example, could indicate that something is being covered up, like water damage or other issues.

 

To prevent my clients from getting caught up in a bad deal, we always have an inspector look over our properties to find all the serious flaws and defects that could pose a risk to health and safety. If there are deficiencies, we can either get a rebate, the client can walk away, or the issues can be remedied by the seller.

 

If you have any questions about this or other real estate topics, give us a call or send an email. We’d love to hear from you.