6 Red Flags when Buying a Home

Shopping for a home is exciting. But we must not get too caught up in the excitement and ignore signs that the house we are looking at might have some concerns. There are a number of Red Flags that can pop up when looking at homes to buy. Here are a few of the biggest Red Flags to keep an eye out for.

Signs of Foundation Trouble

Take a look around the outside, especially along the foundation. If the home has a basement, you will want to look at any exposed concrete walls.  A hairline crack and a little settling are normal, but if you see large cracks, signs of leaks or other indications that there may foundation damage, you will want to call in an expert during your due diligence period if you make an offer to buy the home.

Insect Issues

Having insects, termites or other pests in your home is more than just unsanitary.  These uninvited intruders can actually damage your home and can lead to costly repairs.  If you see insects, termite sign, mice or other pests (or indications that they’ve been in the house recently), it could indicate a pest control problem that the seller has been unable to get under control.  Again, if you like the home, call in a professional to inspect during your due diligence period if you make an offer to buy the home.

Inconsistent Fresh Paint

Seeing freshly painted walls in a house is pretty common and usually isn’t anything to worry about. When the newer paint only covers certain patches of the wall or ceiling, this may indicate damage that was hastily covered up with a little bit of paint. It’s possible that there’s a good reason for it, so make sure you ask.  You do not want a little patch of fresh paint to be hiding an unpleasant surprise. If you like the home, call in a professional home inspector to inspect during your due diligence period if you make an offer to buy the home.

Smells and Stains

Most sellers go out of their way to make a house appear at its very best before allowing potential buyers to enter. This is why you should definitely take note of any odd smells or stains that you encounter in the house. Smells could indicate leaks, mildew, mold or other problems hiding somewhere in the house. Stains can also indicate leaks and other problems, especially if they appear on the ceiling or near the tops of the walls. Large stains on the ceiling can even signify a leaky roof!   If you like the home, call in a professional home inspector to inspect during your due diligence period if you make an offer to buy the home.

Outlet Concerns

When looking through a house, take note of the electrical outlets. If they have visible cracks, discolorations or black smudges on them then you may have electrical problems in your future! While you’re thinking about the electricity, you should also ask to see the breaker box to make sure that it’s well organized and that all of the breakers appear to be in working order.  But again, if you like the home, call in a professional home inspector to inspect during your due diligence period if you make an offer to buy the home.

Standing Water

If it’s been raining, you may see a little bit of water standing in the yard when you go to visit a house. This isn’t necessarily an issue, but stop to think about how long it’s been since it rained and just how much rain you’ve gotten. If there seems to be a lot of water for the amount of rain or if it’s been a while since the last rainfall, that standing water could indicate drainage issues or even problems with a water line, sewer line or septic tank.  Once again, if you like the home, call in a professional home inspector to inspect during your due diligence period if you make an offer to buy the home.

You will always have peace of mind by using a professional home inspector during your due diligence period of any offer you make on any home.