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5 Red Flags to Look for When You’re House Hunting

House hunting is an experience that can be simultaneously extensive, expensive, and exciting to any family. A house is a long-term investment, and with this in mind, you should exercise extreme caution when looking for one to buy. Look for any red flags and avoid closing a deal on a house that has an obvious one so you can enjoy your investment.

For-Sale Signs Everywhere

If many people in the area are selling their houses, it’s important to take a step back and find out why everyone is selling in this area. It’s a major red flag and you should investigate to find out the main cause, which may be something that will leave you unable to enjoy your new home once you buy it. While anywhere from 14 to 23 million Americans are planning on moving as a result of working remotely, there shouldn’t be a large number of people making an exodus from the same area all at once.

An Odd Odor

Once you’re on the property, you should be able to notice if there are any strange or odd odors coming from within or around it. Odors may alert you to the presence of mold in a house, a health hazard that will make your stay in the home an uncomfortable one. Inspect all wet areas and do a thorough overall inspection of the house to ensure that there are no hidden issues that could end up costing you a fortune to fix should you buy the house. If the odd smell is in the general area of the neighborhood, it may be a sign of a health hazard in the environment and so, until you know exactly what it is, you need to avoid the house.

Renovations With No Approvals

If the house has received a major facelift or has had extensive renovation work in the recent past or just prior to the sale, then the seller should provide evidence that the renovations were approved by the local authorities. This is an indicator that the renovations are well done and they adhere to the standards and regulations of the council, leaving you at no risk of shoddy work. Whether it’s something as simple as updating the finishes or something more complex like electrical, you need to be sure it was done right so you know what you’re getting into.

The Deal Is Too Good to Be True

If the deal looks too good to be true, it most likely is, so you need to take a step back and review it. Check everything, both minor and major, to make sure that everything is as it’s supposed to be. With less than half of all homeowners in America getting help from professional HVAC servicers to keep their units well maintained, it’s easy to have many units gone beyond repair or even in a state that poses a risk to the house’s inhabitants. Two out of every five air conditioners that get regular service have a noticeably longer lifespan than those that aren’t serviced as frequently, so HVAC maintenance is a big deal and something that any reputable house on the market should have.

The House Is Sold As-Is

Houses sold under this condition are the responsibility of the buyer to renovate and fix, and if the seller doesn’t disclose all the issues the house has, you may be in for a rude surprise once you buy the house and discover an extreme issue. Things like the roof, which many homeowners and owners of commercial buildings believe needs no maintenance once it’s freshly installed, can be a disaster waiting to happen if it was never checked during its lifetime. Up to 80% of roofs get replaced before they should have been because of this reason, but there are also those that are left to go beyond their lifespan with no maintenance.

When house hunting, carry out due diligence on each property of interest, and don’t let your excitement overshadow your judgment and intuition.

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