Are you house hunting for the first time? It’s easy to become swept up in all the excitement of taking house tours, traveling from home to home, and imagining your dream home. But don’t forget to be critical at the same time. Watch out for the top red flags to look for when house hunting. These can be signs that your dream home might not be as perfect as it seems.
The Price Is Too Good To Be True
While this isn’t enough to base an entire decision on, consider if the housing price might be too good to be true. Sometimes, the seller might simply be in a hurry to move and sell the house. However, at other times they might be trying to pull the wool over your eyes. A housing price that doesn’t match the market value or reflect other homes in the area could have some problems below the surface.
There Are Surrounding Homes for Sale
As the old saying goes, buying a new home is all about location, location, location. While touring a potential home, don’t forget to look around the neighborhood. If several of the surrounding houses are also up for sale, this could raise a few flags and indicate an undesirable location. Bring up the topic with your real estate agent to learn whether it really is a red flag or if the multiple homes for sale are pure coincidence.
There’s Structural Damage in the Home
Perhaps the most significant red flag is visible structural damage to the home. During the touring and home inspection processes, it’s extremely important to look for these red flags. If you notice any of the signs of structural damage during the home inspection, you should immediately get your contractor’s professional opinion on the safety and structure of the house. You don’t want to overlook any of these signs. You could become stuck with a home that has a termite infestation, leaky pipes, a collapsing roof, or something else.
Keep your critical thinking cap on when touring and inspecting potential homes. Always watch out for the top red flags to look for when house hunting so that you don’t fall into the same traps that so many new homeowners do.
