7 Red Flags to Pay Attention to When Buying a New Home

A new home can bring a lot of value into your life. To make sure the transaction goes as expected, you need to see all of the pros and cons. When a deal seems too good to be true, then there is probably trouble lurking around the corner. 

1. The Inspection

There is a reason a new home building inspector is mandatory in certain areas. It’s too easy to fool an unsuspecting buyer by hiding major problems with a fresh coat of paint. And it is even easier to miss minor details that will turn into huge headaches in less than a year after purchase. If a home inspection is constantly denied or delayed, then that is a huge red flag. 

2. Price

Usually, a home will drop in value the longer it is on the market. But if that price plummets and no one can tell you why, then you’re looking at an undisclosed problem. The current housing market is booming, and the prices will go up rather than down. 

3. Aggressiveness

There is nothing wrong with a seller trying to get rid of their house ASAP. It only becomes a problem when their aggression comes at the price of the normal checks. When they’re willing to drop the price if you forego the inspection, that should be your clue that the home has issues. 

4. Mold

Mold is the silent killer, and it loves humid environments. You can usually see black spots or even smell it in areas where the plumbing is active. The problem with mold is that you don’t know how bad it is until it is opened up at the source. Playing the mold lottery with a home purchase could cost a minor cleanup, or a complete emptying of your bank account. 

5. Insect Infestations

Some homeowners get treated for an infestation but don’t mention it on their appraisal. This is illegal, especially when you consider termite damage could reduce the property value by 20% total. Check for any type of infestation even if it isn’t mentioned on the home report. 

6. Water Stains

Plumbing issues eat away at your finances when buying a new home. It is like buying a home with bad electrical wiring. Both require you to tear down walls and trace the culprit of the problem. And with water pipes, one bad one means that the rest are not that far behind in damage. 

7. DIY Additions

Undoing a bad DIY home project is sometimes more hassle than it is worth. As an example, a custom shed that has bad wiring to the house. It was built without approval, and is already a fire code violation ready to happen. This should not fall on the buyer to correct, and you should be wary of any seller that tries to pass the problem onto you. 

A Home Worth Buying

Prospective home buyers should look out for any red flags that will sour the deal. A house is a big investment, so you want to keep the risk at a minimum. Stay smart during the buying process, and your new home will be everything that you ever wanted. 

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