Going To An Open House? Keep Your Eye Out For These 3 Red Flags
Posted on: 7 April 2016
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Attending an open house can be a great way to see a property that you are interested in. However, things might not always be what they seem to be when you attend an open house, since some people will do what they can to try to make their home look as salable as possible at one of these events. These are a few red flags that you should watch out for. You shouldn't necessarily avoid buying a home if you notice these red flags, but you should take notice and look further into the situation before falling in love or committing to buy.
1. Strong Odors
Some real estate agents suggest that sellers bake bread or cookies or light a few scented candles to make a home more appealing. However, if you notice very strong perfumes or air fresheners, it could be a red flag that the seller is trying to cover something up. Also, if you fall in love with a home but notice an unappealing odor -- such as a musty, mildew-type smell, a smoke-related odor, or a urine smell from pets -- you should definitely think twice before buying. In some cases, getting rid of these odors can be extremely difficult -- and extremely costly.
2. Shut-Off Areas
Ideally, the entire home should be available for you to view if you want to, even if every room isn't perfectly staged. If the homeowner has certain areas of the home blocked off, it should be a red flag. It could mean that these rooms are damaged in some way or that there is another issue. It's usually not a very good idea to purchase a home -- or to even start the negotiations -- until you have seen every part of the home in person.
3. Too Much Clutter
Just because a home is cluttered doesn't mean that it isn't in good shape or that you shouldn't buy it. However, a lot of furniture, rugs, and decorations can cover up imperfections that you would want to see before buying. If you're interested in a home that is really cluttered, you should make sure that you get a look at it when the furniture and decor have been moved out of the way if you want to avoid any unexpected surprises.
Talk with a professional, like Sell 4 Free Real Estate Welsh Realty Corp, to help you look out for other details when you are looking at homes on the market. Looking for red flags at an open house is important. Otherwise, you could find yourself falling in love with -- and negotiating for -- a home that isn't in quite the condition that you hoped it was.