Top Red Flags for Homebuyers

A recent article by RIS Media cited the top ten red flags for new home buyers to be aware of – I found this so useful I wanted to share it with my Sweet Digs readers.  The red flags?  Here they are:

“1) Mass Exodus from the Neighborhood

Don’t let a home’s curb appeal keep you from glancing down the street. Are there several other homes for sale? Are nearby businesses boarded up or vandalized? Get the scoop from the neighbors. If everyone else wants to leave the street, maybe you should, too – before you’re stuck with a bad investment.

2) Mediocre Maintenance

Three layers of roofing and gutters with plants growing in them are signs the owners aren’t big on maintaining their home. What else did they neglect?

3) Foundation Failures

Check out the yard grading. If the yard slopes towards the house, it could cause water to run down the foundation walls or into the basement, which will be costly to repair. Scour the foundation for damage. Bulges or cracks bigger than 1/3 inch can mean the house has serious structural issues.

4) Bad Smells – Inside or Outside

Take a big whiff of the air inside and outside the house. Do you smell anything funky? If you can’t smell anything but the huge baskets of potpourri all over the house, this could be a red flag.

5) Faulty or Old Wiring

While you’re probably not an electrician, make sure all the switches and outlets in the house function properly. Flickering lights, circuits that don’t work and warm or hot outlets or faceplates are all symptoms of wiring problems.

6) Fresh Paint… on One Wall

New paint can really spruce up drab walls, but it can also hide bigger problems, like water damage, mildew or mold. If the room smells strange or if you see stains or saggy walls or ceilings, have an inspector look for mold and leaks.

7) Locked Doors and Blockades

Ask about any rooms that are “off limits” during your home tour, and arrange to see them later if you’re interested in the house.

8) Foggy or Non-Functioning Windows

Check for water in between double-paned windows and make sure all the windows are functional.

9) Structural Walls or Floors have been Removed

Sure you love the open floor plan, but was the house always open or did the homeowners renovate? If they removed a load-bearing wall without adjusting the framing, it can shift weight to other parts of the house. Hire a structural engineer if you think any renovations are questionable.

10) Bugs!

No one wants a house with a pest problem – be it roaches, mice or worst of all, termites. Be on the lookout for unwelcome creatures as you tour the house. Even if no foes pop out while you’re there, consider a separate termite inspection if you’re thinking of purchasing the property.”

 I agree with ALL of these pointers, and have a few more to add:

1) ALWAYS visit a property on the weekend before purchasing.  All the residents come out then, when they may be at work or school during the week.  I almost settled in a home until I visited on the weekend, and saw several young residents wearing gang colors.  Not good!

2) Don’t just look at the foundation to see if there are structural problems – check the inside (and especially bearing) walls for cracking.  This can show signs of settling. 

3) Ask the neighbors if there have been any neighborhood nuisances – teens partying late at night or holding road races.  These can really be annoying, especially if you have to get up for work early in the morning.

4) Apartment homes nearby can spell trouble – as they tend to degrade a home’s future prospects for appreciation.  Apartment buildings also tend to be full of young people who go in and out at all hours. 

5) Look for signs of any fire damage.  This can be hard to spot, so make sure you hire a professional to inspect the home.  The same holds true for the wiring – a good, licensed electrician should do an inspection.

6) Look at the ceilings for signs of leaks.  These can cost costly repairs to be needed if not addressed immediately.

7) If you see the “possibilities” in a home and have big plans, put a dollar figure to those plans and see if it is within your budget.  If not, you could live with yesterday’s formica and orange linoleum for a long time!

8) Check out any older properties for mold – especially if you have allergies.  This also takes a professional inspection.

9) Look specifically for signs of termite infestation.  Black dots on the windowsills and/or small eaten away sections of the sills are a dead giveaway.  Usually these are uncovered during the “termite” inspections, but I have had cases where the inspector was none too careful.  Best to hire your own pro. 

10) READ all the disclosures carefully.  If there are unpermitted additions, building over what was once a hazardous waste site, and/or deaths in the property – these are all red flags that warrant closer investigation.