4 Things to Watch Out For When Viewing a House

Saturday, September 1, 2018

4 Things to Watch Out For When Viewing a House

Sometimes, you just fall in love with a house at first sight. As soon as you step through the door, you can see yourself living there and you don’t care about any of its little quirks and blemishes. In fact, you might not even notice them. However, after the rose colored tint fades, you’ll have to live with all of those imperfections and you might feel less than sentimental about them.

There’s nothing wrong with buying a house that needs a little work, as long as you’re prepared for that work. However, it’s best to notice these warning signs before you make an offer on the home. Your home inspection will point out much of what you’re getting into, but there are a few things you can notice all on your own, if you know what to look for.

Roof

Before you go inside, check out the house’s roof. If it’s a shingled or tiled roof, do you notice shingles that are curling back or broken tiles? Dark or discolored spots could speak to water damage, potential leaks or rotting. These are all issues you’ll have to take care of sooner or later, and they can potentially drive up the homeowner’s insurance. A new roof will lower homeowner’s insurance, but boost the home’s value.

Scent

Sometimes, filling the room with a pleasant scent or air freshener is part of staging the home. Even if there’s nothing wrong with a home’s natural smell or air quality, the gentle aroma of cinnamon or fresh pine can be very inviting. But if that scent overpowers the room as soon as you step inside, there’s a chance the seller is trying to mask something less pleasant. How do you know when the air fresheners are masking less than fresh air? Look at the ceilings and walls for water damage, the floors and furniture for pet dander, and the bathroom tiles for mildew.

Floors

The floor can also tell you a little about the house. Sagging floors can speak to structural problems in the home. If the floor seems to dip down near the bathroom, that could be an issue with the plumbing. Old hardwood floors might sometimes have a slight crack between boards that herald wearing down, and if you can see a gap between the trim and the floor, the home probably isn’t very well insulated.

Windows

Finally, there’s the windows of the home. Certain issues with windows will be immediately obvious. For instance, windows that look grimy could be the result of gas-fillings and broken seals. Fortunately, the gas fillings used to keep windows insulated are non-toxic, but it can be an unattractive look. If it’s later in the year — fall and winter — you may also be able to notice drafts near the window if it’s not properly sealed and letting too much air through.

If you’re aware of the potential problems the house might have before the house inspection, you’ll be better able to decide whether it’s worth the work you would need to put into it. You can also discuss your viewing with your College Station realtor to possibly negotiate a lower price for the home.