Purchasing a home, condo, or apartment is the largest financial investment most people will ever make. And for first-time buyers, the whole process can be not only intimidating but also overwhelming, which can lead to things being overlooked or not knowing what to look at when looking at homes. There is a gender.
Well, recently I came across a Reddit thread from a few years ago. There, a user asked, “Real estate agents on Reddit, what are the subtle red flags to look out for when buying a home?”
The thread had thousands of replies, not just from real estate agents but also from homeowners who learned from their experiences. Below are the top, best, and most frequently repeated comments.
1.
“We've given it a fresh coat of paint and new carpet, but nothing else has been updated. This is a real estate agent home improvement feature. It's just there to make you feel better with a 15-minute walkthrough. Look at the tile, trim, and foundation to see what you really need to know.'' And if you don't know, be sure to drive through the neighborhood at night. ”
2.
“Go to a screening when it's raining like shit, then check your basement. This will reveal foundation water issues, as even an idiot like me can see. One house I was shown had a cable run into the basement.The exterior was at earth level and not sealed, allowing water flow to run over the breaker box and down into the basement. I passed the house.”
3.
“Walking or biking around your neighborhood teaches you more about the area than driving.”
Four.
“Here you go, real estate agent. It’s the grading, clearly. Or the slope of the ground at the foundation of the house. If the ground slopes towards the house, that means the rain will run directly to the foundation. This can cause big problems. Be especially careful if you have sloped concrete like a driveway. You'll be digging or jacking through the mud, which is both labor-intensive and expensive. Seriously, when considering a home, take a walk around the area. Considering the surroundings first can save you tens of thousands of dollars and future foundation problems.”
Five.
“If you tap on the wall and hear it move – if it's an older house – that's a sign that the plaster isn't in good condition. At best, you'll have a hard time hanging anything on it. Worst case scenario, get the contemporary open floor plan of your dreams (nightmares).
6.
“Pizza delivery prohibited area”
7.
“Here you go, real estate agents. Something practical: Most people will need more storage. It's easy to overlook this when you're busy looking at kitchens and bathrooms. Pay attention to cabinet space in the kitchen. Also, keep an eye on the indoor temperature.'' The seller is keeping the home. In the summer, when the temperature outside is 100 degrees, a comfortable cold house is most welcome. Also look for his shoddy DIY work. Sometimes it's just cosmetic, but if you notice any electrical or plumbing problems, be sure to have an inspector take a look. Once you've moved on to the house, take a closer look. ”
8.
“As a construction guy, please, please, check the attic. People buy houses and never check the actual air conditioner. You go in there and smell a burnt smell, or a crumpled one. If you see a big silver tube that's visible, that's a problem. If there's a strong odor, don't buy it. No one's going to spend $80 on a Glade plug-in unless they're trying to hide something.”
9.
“If you walk into your home and are hit by the smell of Febreze or air freshener…expect that when it wears off, it will probably smell like dog or smoke. Many agents prefer a clean burn. Please keep this in mind.”
Ten.
“My grandfather sold real estate for decades, and the first two things he looked for were roofs and furnaces. Either one was too old or needed replacing right away. If it's likely to happen, you should consider it (most first-time home buyers can't afford to replace in the first few years, and many older homeowners would rather not replace).
11.
“If a seller is hanging things on walls where no one else hangs things, they may be hiding damage from a decade of termite infestation. Source: Seller Hanging Things on Walls I bought a house where they hung things where there weren't any.'' They may have hung things to hide a 10-year termite infestation. ”
12.
“One of the first things I check before showing a home is the MLS. In my area, the market has an average of 17 days. Some homes sell in less than 10 days, others sell in 23 days. I also have a house. When the 30th comes, – plus many days have passed, this is a big red flag for me. There are multiple reasons why a house won't sell. The house may be in bad shape, the seller may be greedy, or simply It could just be a bad marketer, but then again, if it's been more than 30 days, I'm even more skeptical.”
13.
“Open the bottom cabinet in your kitchen and smell it (if you have a mouse problem, the air there is usually 'stale' so it shouldn't be affected by air fresheners. If you smell bleach , that's bad). Also check the fuse/breaker box. Look for signs that you're throwing up more often. And there's also a vent (hiding mold) that has obviously been thoroughly cleaned recently. ”
14.
“If for some excuse you can't show me certain rooms, attics, basements, etc.”
15.
“If you are looking at a house in winter and there are a lot of icicles on the roof, [and none of the other houses in the neighborhood have icicles]It may not be properly insulated. ”
16.
“If you're buying a house or condo that's part of a group built by the same builder, knock on your neighbor's door and ask if they've had any problems. especially If it's a new building. ”
17.
“Did the homeowner bother to clean it for showings? If you walk into a dirty home, they're actively trying to sell it. Sellers may want to clean the basics like appliances and the garden. There is a possibility that there is little maintenance.”
18.
“If the entire bathroom, including the ceiling, is tiled, they may be trying to hide a mold problem. Have your inspector check to see if the bath fan is actually connected to the outdoors.”
19.
“Be sure to test every appliance in your home: ice maker, dishwasher, microwave, garbage disposal, stove, washer/dryer, etc.” Make sure there are no strong odors (pets, cigarettes, etc.). My boyfriend and I are both real estate agents, and you'd be surprised how many people truly believe that air can eliminate odors. I've seen many clients have to completely replace everything. The floors in the new house were covered in animal urine. ”
20.
And finally, “Please, please check the cell phone signal in the house. I just moved into a new house, and when I stand up on my chair, there is a bar on the second floor. It turns out there's only one phone tower, which serves more than 200 homes in the area, but it's adjacent to an area of million-dollar homes, so it's hard to build another one. I can't get permission. So I'm SOL. ”
