The home buying process can be exciting, and it also can be a little nerve-racking. It is important to do your due diligence in your preparation and all the way through the close of the transaction.
This includes checking your credit score, budgeting, getting pre-approved for a loan, finding a real estate agent, shopping for homes, looking at neighborhoods, school districts, etc. As the process continues, you may get impatient and want to speed the process up. That can sometimes have a negative result, however, in terms of finding the type of home you are looking for.
Across the Seattle/Tacoma/Renton communities, there are a plethora of homes that you may like purchasing. Just like any area across the country, however, there are some properties with a lot of red flags.
Here are some things you should watch for when house hunting to make sure you do not purchase a home that you regret later.
Mold
This can sometimes be difficult to spot, but a home inspector should be able to determine if a home has a mold problem. Mold can often mean there has been a water leak in the home that spread. This can damage the structure of the house and also be a potential health hazard.
The Neighborhood
The age-old phrase in real estate is location, location, location – and it is true. If you find a home you like, spend some time just driving and walking around the neighborhood. Do the other homeowners in the area take care of their lawn? Are the streets clean? Take a drive through at night and see what it is like in the neighborhood when the sun goes down. You may be living there for a long time, so you will want to be sure this is a place you can see yourself living.
Fresh Paint
Is the paint on the walls fresh? It may look nice, but it also could mean it was put there to cover something up. Watch for spots that don’t line up with the rest of the house’s paint.
Cracks in the Foundation
The foundation holds the house up, so it is quite important. Walk around and see if you can see any cracks. If the home has a basement, that may be a good area to check for cracks. If the door frames of the house seem to be slightly uneven, that could be a red flag for foundation issues as well.
These are just some of many red flags that could change your mind on a house so it is important to be aware of what to look for. Be sure to consult with your real estate agent about any concerns and communicate with the home inspector to see how major issues could impact homeownership over the long-term.