Buying a home? 10 open house red flags
By Morgan Quinn/GOBankingRates
Summer is the prime time for purchasing new homes and moving. Certain warning signs during an open house, however, should have you questioning a property.
As you embark on your open house adventures this summer, watch out for these red flags to avoid buying a money pit.
This article,Buying a home? 10 open house red flags, was originally published on GOBankingRates.com.
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1. Multiple homes for sale in the same area
The house you are looking at might be a perfect fit, but what about the neighborhood? Multiple homes for sale on one street could be a sign that residents aren't happy with the area.
Take a tour of the community and look for signs of a thriving neighborhood, such as well-kept homes, flourishing businesses, and an abundance of sidewalks and streetlights. If you see any neighbors, ask them how long they've lived there and how they like the area. You could learn a lot.
2. Funky odors
Water damage, mildew and mold might be hard to see, but they aren't hard to smell. Some agents try to mask these musky and dank odors with air freshener, potpourri or fresh-baked cookies, but that only goes so far.
Take a whiff of the closets or basement to get a better idea of the house's condition. If you suspect something is off, schedule a private tour of the house with a separate agent. It's a lot harder to hide those funky smells when it's just you and a neutral third party conducting a walk-through of the property.
3. Rooms that are “off limits”
Sellers might block off rooms for a variety of reasons -- such as conserving air conditioning or storing a few items they haven't had time to move yet -- so this isn't an immediate red flag. Just ask the listing agent about any rooms or areas that are blocked off and request to see them during a private tour of the home. You want to make sure you see every inch of the house before you consider purchasing it.
4. Recent renovations
Some homeowners decide to do quick renovations to make their homes more salable, but the fast work can come at a price or as a result of cutting corners, such as no permits, structural issues, or electrical and plumbing that was never properly inspected. For example, if a homeowner removed a load-bearing wall to create a more open floor plan, the structural integrity of the rest of the house might be compromised.
If you love the house but question the recent renovations, you can hire a structural engineer to inspect the property. Also, construction permits and records can usually be requested from the city. Do your due diligence so nothing comes back to haunt you later.
5. Peeling paint
Peeling paint can be a sign of more than just an old paint job -- sometimes it's caused by dry rot or moisture penetration.
A property inspection should identify any dry rot and reveal any windows or seals that aren't watertight, including in the roof. But these inspections are costly. U.S. News estimates a home inspection can run anywhere from $300 to $600, which is why inspections are typically done when the house is already in escrow.
If the home inspection reveals the home has dry rot or water damage, you could ask the seller to pay for the repairs or credit your escrow account for the costs.
6. Deferred maintenance
During the open house, look for signs of deferred maintenance like broken fixtures, cracked masonry, outdated electrical outlets, sticky doors or unusual drafts. These issues can be signs that the owner has not kept up the home -- a mistake that can cost you after the escrow closing.
If you love the house, try negotiating with the owner to have him either make the repairs or credit you the costs of hiring professionals to fix the problems.
7. Disjointed additions
Have you ever visited a property that looked like it was pieced together? Maybe some of the rooms weren't exactly aligned or were comprised of various building materials. These kinds of discrepancies can indicate the space was added on to the original property.
Additions, like sunrooms or a master suite, can add a lot of value to a property -- if they are done well. But sometimes this kind of work is done by novices who don't get the proper permits, consider how the extra space will affect the structure, or correctly hook up electrical and plumbing systems.
Ask the listing agent about the history of the house. A good agent should know when any additions were constructed and if permits were acquired. If the agent isn't sure, which could be a red flag, look up the information through city records
8. Neighbors
You might think you found the house of your dreams, but the neighbors might be a nightmare. You never really know what you're going to get, but some signs of shady neighbors could include poor maintenance, overflowing trash, personal items or debris stacked on the porch or lawn, or lots of people coming in and out of the property.
If you want to get a better idea of who is living next door, do several drive-bys of the property during different days and times. See what is going on in the morning, midday and at night, especially on the weekends. If you see any residents walking around, ask them how they like the area and if there's anything to watch out for. You might get the inside scoop on some neighborhood drama you otherwise would have never known about until it was too late.
9. Unfinished construction
Sometimes a house is listed before renovations are complete. It's possible the owner ran out of money or ran into issues with the property that prevented the renovation from being finished on time. If you are interested in learning more about the status of the house, call the contractor with any questions -- don't ask the seller because you want to try to get neutral information.
Make sure your lender will still finance a home with unfinished construction work because this can be a deal breaker for some brokers. According to Realtor.com, construction loans are riskier than standard home loans, and you will need excellent credit and at least a 20 percent to 25 percent down payment.
Weigh this decision carefully because you might end up jumping through extra hoops and spending more than you intended. For example, the lender will need to perform a credit check on the builder, and more appraisals and inspections might be required.
10. Popcorn ceilings
Popcorn ceilings are not the worst problem to have, but they will need to be addressed. Popcorn ceilings can contain asbestos and other toxic materials, which means you'll need to fork over extra cash to make your new home safe and healthy.
You might be able to remove the popcorn yourself, but according to Angie's List, the safest and cleanest way to get the job done is to hire a professional contractor to do it for you -- especially if asbestos is a factor. Removal can cost $1 to $3 per square foot, but the price is worth getting the job done right and preserving everyone's health.
Ultimately, a thorough, professional home inspection should unveil any red flags with your potential new home. Once you have an idea of what you could be getting yourself into, you'll have to weigh the pros, cons and costs of inheriting those issues.