🚩RED FLAGS: Real Estate Edition

Are you house hunting this season?  Keep reading to learn some of the most common red flags!
MOST homes are in great shape with minor maintenance to be expected. 🏚 But, there are properties with deferred maintenance, damage, or infestations that a buyer will need to be aware of:

Structural - 
Look for major cracks in the foundation, problems with the doors closing, door frames not being perfectly rectangular, or walls and floors that seem to sag. If after the home inspection there is a larger issue, a structural engineer report may be able to provide additional insight. 

Water Damage - 
Poor drainage can include overflowing gutters or downspouts, as well as water stains. Water stains on walls, ceilings, and in the basement are easy to check as they are yellowish or brownish in color. Also, watch out for any leaky faucets and pipes as they could be an indication of a plumbing problem. 

Bad Smells - 
Take a big wiff of the air inside and outside the house. Do you smell anything funky? If you can't semm anything the huge baskets of potpourri all over the house, this could be a red flag. Strong odors in the home often indicate poor maintenance, mold or mildew. 

Pests - 
A severe pest problem should raise a red flag. Many pests, especially woof destroying pests, can cause damage to a home that can cost thousands of dollars to rectify. If most common pests that should raise red flags include termites, beetles, and rodents. 

Pricing - 
Be wary if the listing price is way too low for its market value and seems too good to be true. It's a common red flag that usually indicates a number of issues with the home. There could be an issue with the house or location, or there are major problems that will be expensive to repair. 

It is likely that these red flags are noticeable when you are touring the home, but we ALWAYS recommend a home inspection to provide an in-depth look at the true condition of the home.

Don’t let this scare you away, we will protect your investment to make sure you purchase a home that is right for you! 🏡