Home Tour Red Flags

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Home Tour Red Flags

Frontdoor.com, HGTV’s real estate Web site, identifies several potential problems that buyers should look out for when touring a home.

1. Mediocre Maintenance. Three layers of roofing and gutters with plants growing out of them are signs that the owners have not kept up with the property. What else have they neglected?
2. Foundation Failures. If the yard slopes toward the house, it could cause water to run down the foundation walls or into the basement, which could result in costly repairs. Also if foundation cracks or bulges are thicker than 1/3 inch, the house could have serious structural issues.
3. Faulty Wiring. Make sure all switches and outlets function properly. Flickering lights, circuits that don’t work, and warm or hot outlets or faceplates are all symptoms of wiring problems.
4. Fresh Paint …On One Wall. New paint can spruce up walls, but they can also hide bigger problems, such as water damage, mildew or mold.
5. Foggy or Non-functioning Windows. Check for water in between double-paned windows and make sure all windows work properly.
6. Structural Walls and Floors. The house may have an open floor plan, but was it always open or did the homeowners renovate? If a load-bearing wall was removed without adjusting the framing, it can shift weight to other parts of the house.
7. Bugs. No one wants a
house with a pest
problem. Look for
evidence of
unwelcome
creatures as
you tour
the home.