If you're thinking, "House hunting is supposed to be exciting, not a chore." You're absolutely right! But here's the thing, amidst all the excitement, there are some sneaky little red flags you need to keep an eye out for. So, grab your cup of tea, settle in, and let's dive into this.
Beginning with Listings... The details, or lack of, to be wary of:
- Vague Listings: Ones without much description at all about the home, yard or area may indicate there's not much good to speak to or the person listing the home is relying heavily on the adage 'a picture is worth a thousand words.' Listings using a whole lot of flowery verbiage without saying a whole lot on things that matter, like size, condition, ages of components, etc are ones to be wary of. If whomever listed the home isn't sharing what all is appealing about it, maybe there isn't much that is. This doesn't mean the home is a dud, but if there isn't much pride in marketing then there may not have been 'pride of ownership' either.
- Dodgy Photos: Now, let's talk about listing photos. They're supposed to showcase the property, right? Well, if you're seeing blurry, poorly lit photos that look like they were taken with a potato, it's reasonable to raise an eyebrow. Sellers and their representative(s) should be flaunting the home, not hiding it in the shadows.
- Lack of Interior Photos: Along the same lines of Sellers flaunting their home, there should be at least 10-15 photos showing the interior of the home - layout, finishes, condition, etc. If there is simply a single photo of the exterior and nothing else after the home has been on market for 3 days with plenty of time to have lined up professional photography, that's a red flag.
- Ambiguous Wording: Certain phrases may sound charming but can actually subtly suggest other facts at hand. "Cozy" often means small or tight spaces; therefore, it's best to pay attention to the specs on the listings and the floor plan if one is included. "Quaint" or "Vintage" may actually mean sub-par or dated finishes or may even mean old appliances and mechanicals, so be sure to look through the Sellers Disclosures to get a sense of the age of the components of the home. "Unique" may signify something strange or difficult to relate to or make sense of. "Up and Coming" could signal that the neighborhood is a mixed bag; there's good and there's not-so-good in that mix... best check the neighborhood stats if it's one you're not already familiar with to see if there are any aspect to hone-in on.
- Ill Timing: A simple example of an ill-timed sale would be listing a home with a pool selling in the middle of winter in these parts of the nation. West Michigan winter conditions would make a thorough inspection of the pool difficult if not impossible. An ideal time to sell a home with a pool would be late spring or early summer, not in the dead of winter.
Use all of your senses at in-person showings and drive-bys checking for the following:
- Overly Scented: If there seems to be a lot of fresheners in use, particularly plug-ins, a good question to ask is if there could be an odor someone may be trying to mask that could be related to water, pets, smoke, etc.
- Musty Smell: If you detect a musty smell, it's natural to wonder if there are active water leaks causing damage and a musty odor to match or a former leak that's left mold/mildew growing.
- Signs of Neglect: Imagine you're at a showing, and you start noticing cracks in the walls, water rings, peeling paint, creaky or crooked floors, or overgrown yard. That's not just bad luck, folks, that's a sign that this house might need more TLC than you're willing to give.
- Signs of Pests: Are there active bait traps for mice or ants in the home? Have you looked in the basement, garage or shed to see if there are products or evidence of treatment around the home for various pests? Perhaps a pest problem has been addressed, or perhaps there's an ongoing challenge you should be aware of.
- Pulse of the Neighborhood: Sometimes the best time to drive by a home is in the evening to get a sense of how the neighborhood is at night. Park down the road to listen and watch. What is the neighborhood like in the later hours of the day or night? Is there a lot of traffic, noise, ruckus? Or is it quiet and still? If you work third shift, do this during your usual sleep time of day to see if it will work for you.
Other considerations:
- Are there a lot of homes for sale in the neighborhood? If there are, it's wise to inquire as to what change(s) are spurring the exodus.
- Has the home been on market for more than 10 days during a prime season like spring or summer? In a hot Sellers' Market, a home sitting on market past 10 days signals that it may be over-priced or something significant is the matter with it, or both. There might be an opportunity at hand, or it may just be a dud.
- Is the home 'Back on Market' or did it 'Fall out of Escrow'? Depending on timeline, it could be due to financing or it could be due to inspections. Your Realtor should dig into the reason why. If it's happened more than once, it's likely a home flaw and not multiple Buyers having financing issues.
House hunting can be an adventure, but it's important to keep your wits about you. Knowing these things ahead simply helps guide you on towards what homes you will/won't want to invest time or resources into and also help to structure proactive conversations you may have with your agent to get further details on anything you find concerning.
Whenever there is any way that we can help with your homeownership experience, please reach out. 616-328-6990
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