All The Red Flags When Viewing A House

Buying a house is an exciting time for so many people, and with so many ways to get your foot on the property ladder, it can be a lot to think about. Open houses are a popular way to see a property, but they can often mean we need to act quickly if we want to beat out the competition.

Then there’s a one-on-one viewing that gives us a chance to walk around with a real estate agent, but this can come with the issue of having to listen to what they’re saying and still take everything in. One thing’s for sure: we need to remember all the red flags when viewing a house.

Check to see how well the doors close in their frame

Sure, you can change or paint the doors if you don’t like the ones the previous owners chose, but what if they struggle to close? This could be a big red flag when viewing a house, as a stiff door could indicate that the framing has shifted and things no longer line up. It could also mean there is damp in the room that’s caused the wood to swell. Even if the door does close, take a moment to look at the sides and corners of the door to ensure nothing has been trimmed off to mask any issues.

A smell of mold or cleaning products could be a red flag

If there’s one thing plenty of people want to avoid, it’s mold in the home. It can come with a host of health issues and be a real pain to manage. Look in the corners of the room, around window frames, and around sinks for any obvious signs of mold. Also, take a moment to smell the room to see if it smells musty, as this can be enough of a warning sign. Smell a stench of bleach outside of the bathroom? It could be innocent and that someone wants to keep things clean - or it could be that mold has been cleared before you arrived.

Check ceilings for any water stains or evidence of a leak

Home and water don’t mix, at least not when it comes from somewhere it’s not supposed to be. Looking at the ceiling can reveal a lot more about a house than it might seem, as any leftover water stains could indicate there has been a plumbing issue or problems with the roof in the past. Until you know the extent of the damage and what caused the leak, hold off on making an offer.

A fresh coat of paint could be used to hide other issues

Of course, some sellers are willing to invest a few dollars into their homes to get the best deal they can on the market. This could mean touching up some chipped paint and investing in fresh flowers. Still, it’s unlikely that someone would go to the effort of repainting an entire room when their house is on the market. The smell of fresh paint can be tough to hide, making it one of the more obvious red flags when viewing a house. Spot paint could indicate where there was damage, such as a leak, while an entire wall might be covering a much larger issue.

As-is properties are a big red flag for issues

There are times when buying as-is properties can be the thing we need to find an affordable home that needs a little TLC. Sometimes, it might be because someone has passed away, and the family doesn’t want the property. Other times, it’s because the current owners know it needs a lot of work and don’t want to invest time and money into the home. That’s where the problems start. After all, if there are some obvious issues on the surface, there’s a good chance that things are even worse beneath the surface.

A lengthy sale or low price could indicate known issues

Taking a look at real estate sites can be a great way to see how long something has been on the market. While more expensive properties might take a little longer to sell, plenty of houses come and go like that. What about a home that appears to be normal but has been on the market for a long time? It could be that other buyers have learned about issues with the house. Then there are the homes that are well below market value. Although they can seem like a good deal, you might be inviting problems into your life when it comes to the cost of fixing all those issues.

Learning about all the red flags when viewing a house could be the things so many of us need to avoid disappointment and huge financial investments further down the line. While there is always going to be a small risk when investing in a property, there are ways to help ensure we don’t find ourselves stuck up the creek without a paddle.