Emanuel Stewart - Reliant Home Lending

  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Mortgage Info
    • FAQ
    • First Time Home Buyer Tips
    • First Time Home Seller Tips
    • Closing Costs
    • Home Appraisal
    • Home Inspection
    • Loan Checklist
    • Loan Process
    • Loan Programs
    • Mortgage FAQ
    • Mortgage Glossary
  • Resources
    • Links
    • Forms
  • Apply
    • Apply Now
    • Credit Application
  • Contact

House Hunting? Watch for These 5 Red Flags when Viewing Potential New Homes

July 16, 2015 by Emanuel Stewart

House Hunting? Watch for These 5 Red Flags when Viewing Potential New Homes From the sales price to the general layout of the building, there are numerous factors that buyers will consider when touring homes. While there are specific factors that buyers may be searching for in a new house, there are also a few warning signs that home buyers should keep their eyes open for. The following are among the top red flags that may serve as warning signs.

Signs Of Poor Home Maintenance

It is reasonable to expect all homes to have some signs of wear and tear unless they are new construction. However, it is also reasonable to expect that sellers have taken some steps to improve the condition and look of the property before listing it. When a home appears to be poorly maintained on a superficial level, home buyers should pause to consider what other aspects of the home have also been poorly maintained that are not visible.

The Grading In The Yard

When a yard grades toward the house, issues with erosion and even flooding may be concerns. Everything from a brief, torrential downpour to snow melt can result in water running toward a property when grading is a concern. Home buyers should take time to review the yard carefully to determine how water may flow when it rains or when snow melts.

A Foul Odor

It is common for sellers to try to make their home smell appealing, and different types of deodorizers may be used to mask everything from food smells to pet odors. However, it is important for home buyers to pay attention to the underlying smells in a home. Everything from a musky or mildew-y smell to sewage smells and gas odors should be warning signs.

Repairs To One Wall

Homeowners may repaint walls to make the space look cleaner, brighter and more appealing, so a fresh coat of paint by itself is not a warning sign. However, if the paint is on just one wall or if the area under the fresh coat of paint appears to have been recently textured or repaired, these are signs that water damage or other damage may have been addressed recently.

Signs Of Pests And Rodents

Another warning sign relates to signs of pests and rodents. Even if bugs and rodents are not visible during the initial tour, things like a can of bug spray, mouse traps and other related items may indicate that the seller has had an issue with bugs and rodents.

Some warning signs will be obvious during an initial home tour, but others may require more skill and experience to see. Because of this, it is best for all home buyers to consider ordering a property inspection to learn more about the condition of the home before finalizing their buying plans.

Home Buyer Tips Tagged: Buying A Home, Home Buyer Tips, Home Inspections

Emanuel Stewart Profile Photo

Contact Emanuel


Mortgage Broker

Call (225) 313-6189

NMLS ID 107678
Reliant Lending

Connect with Me

Let’s Keep In Touch!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Logos BBB
Equal Housing Lender
NMLS Consumer Access

Quick Links

  • About Us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Blog
  • Contact

Previous Posts

Categories

Looking For Something?

Reliant Home Lending
8550 United Plaza Boulevard Suite 702
Baton Rouge, LA 70809

Copyright © 2023 Emanuel Stewart – Reliant Home Lending  ·  All rights reserved   ·   Log In