In past years, a house that was for sale for an extended period of time was a bad sign. There was probably something wrong with the house. That is not necessarily the case any more due to the economy but there are conditions that should spark red flags when you are looking for a house to buy.
Curb Appeal
This is a popular, common sense thing to check. Is the house well maintained on the outside? Take a look at the roof, the gutter, the flower gardens and shrubbery to see if they are in good shape or neglected. The exterior is an indicator of how the interior is kept.
The Age of The House
We are in no way trying to say that modern houses are better; just that you need to carefully check certain areas in houses of different eras. Older homes are known for better craftsmanship but are not set up for our modern lifestyles. They didn’t need walk in closets or areas to recharge mobile devices.
Reggie Marsten, owner of the D.C.-based REM Home Inspections, is well acquainted with dangers that are era specific. Following is a list from Marsten of things to watch out for:
- Homes built in the early 1900s used lead water lines.
- Homes built from the 1920s until the 1970s utilized lead- and asbestos- containing products.
- Homes built in the 1960s to the present contain products that give off volatile gases.
- Some homes that were built from the mid 1970s to the present utilized defective water lines that fail inspection.
Water Damage
Do a quick eye check on whether the ground slopes away from the house or towards the house. Do the bathrooms have good ventilation? Check basements, crawlspaces, and attics for mold or mildew. Those are red flag problems that need fixing.
Geographical Area
If you are planning to live in an area that gets extremely hot or cold you will want to check how energy efficient the house is. If the house is more exposed to the weather, or water, there will be different necessary aspects to keep you comfortable, safe, and dry.
If the house passes all of the above tests you should still consider hiring a home inspector. They are trained to check major appliances – like furnaces; as well as all the things we mentioned above and more. It is worth spending some money on an inspector to let you know if you need to repair a major structural issue that would cost you a lot more than the cost of the inspection in the long run.
Read more here.
Great post. I’d like to add that people should make sure to take notice of how the neighbors keep up their place. Junky neighbors definitely will hinder your sale/renting of a house.
Also be careful with houses that back up to busy roads and/or railroad tracks. I’ve found that this makes it a little more difficult to sell/rent as well.
Maybe not so much when renting, but if you are going to be asking top dollar, make sure you figure this in.
Danny