Red Flags To Watch For At An Open House

Visiting several open houses on a Saturday or Sunday is a good way to house hunt, especially since it'll give you a chance to take your time and look at everything without pressure. Use this freedom to do a little poking around, and as you browse, watch out for these red flags.

5 Tell-Tale Signs This May Not Be The Right Home For You

1. Foundation Problems
   The first thing you should look for, and the fastest deal-breaker on your list, is any sign of foundation problems. When you walk around the outside of the house or visit the basement, small cracks in the foundation shouldn't pose a problem, but large gaps are warning signs of future trouble. As you walk through the house, check to make sure doors and windows open and close easily and fit right in their frames; poor fit may indicate the house has shifted significantly. Cracks in the drywall above doors or around windows may also indicate a problem. Also, pay attention to whether walls have been removed during renovations; if those were load-bearing walls or structural supports, removing them may have caused the weight to shift to other parts of the house that weren't meant to support it.
   
   
2. Repair Work and Other Signs of Needed Maintenance
   As you walk the property, look for signs that the owners don't keep up with the maintenance. Burnt-out bulbs, leaky faucets, slow drains, clogged gutters, and uncut lawns may not seem like a big deal, but they may indicate a lax attitude about necessary maintenance. If the owners haven't taken care of these things that everyone can see as they walk through the home, what have they neglected that you can't see?
   
   
3. Strong Odors or Scents
   Obviously, if you smell something unpleasant such as mildew when you walk into the house, it should give you pause. But an excess of pleasant scents can also be a warning sign, as it may mean that the seller or their agent is trying to cover something up. It may be just for the open house, but at the very least, you should schedule a time to come back and look at the home again when the seller or the agent isn't trying as hard to make it smell nice.
   
   
4. Random Patches of Fresh Paint
   It's not uncommon for sellers to repaint the interior of their homes before listing, especially if the paint was old or if they were trying to depersonalize custom colors on the advice of their agent. But if you walk into a room and find just one wall, or even part of one wall, has a coat of fresh paint, you should question why the seller would paint such a small section. In the best case scenario, they had just recently done a repair; worst-case scenario, they're covering something up that would otherwise be cause for concern.
   
   
5. Trust Your Gut... and Your Agent
   If you see something concerning during an open house, don't be afraid to say thanks but no thanks. Remember that a home will be looking its absolute best for an open house, so if you still see something that makes you pause, there's probably more to it than meets the eye. If you're uncertain, don't forget to utilize the most important resource at your disposal: your agent, who has seen hundreds of houses for sale, and has the experience to get a quick read on the property.

Red flags can be a bummer, but they don't always have to be deal-breakers. It's best to talk with your real estate agent for the best course of action in these scenarios. 

• Simple Daily Habits to Maintain a Cleaner Home
• Don't Let Winter Win: How to Freeze-Proof Your Garage
• How to Extend the Life of Your Water Heater
• Winterproofing Windows and Doors: A Guide to Keeping the Cold Out
• How to Future-Proof Your Home for Changing Needs
• Home Happiness 101: Small Upgrades That Can Make Every Day Feel Better
• Fall Cleaning Tips For Decluttering Before the Holidays
• How to Create a Cozy Fall Retreat in Your Backyard
• Why Fall is Prime Time for Window Replacement
• Tips for Transitioning Your Closet From Summer to Fall

• Why September Is the Best Month to Paint Your Home's Exterior
• End-of-Summer Pool Closing Tips

• What to Know About Using Gifted Funds for a Down Payment
• What to Know About Using Gifted Funds for a Down Payment
• How to Research Crime and Safety
• What Buyers Need to Know About Home Warranties
• Browsing for Homes Online? Follow These Shopping Tips
• How to Look Past Bad Staging
• What Happens If Interest Rates Change After You Buy?
• How to Compare Two Homes You Love
• Post-Holiday Finances: How to Reset Your Budget for Home Buying
• New Year, New Home: How to Set Smart Home-Buying Goals for the Year Ahead

• Looking Beyond Closets: How to Evaluate a Home's Storage Potential
• Time-Off Tips: Using Your Holiday Break for Real Estate Decision-Making

• What Buyers Notice First in Listing Photos
• How Spring Sellers Can Enter The Market With Confidence
• Tax Considerations Home Sellers Should Know About
• The One-Room-at-a-Time Spring Prep Strategy
• What's the Difference Between Listing a Home and Marketing It?
• How to Respond to Buyer Feedback Without Panicking
• Transparency Builds Trust: Why Honesty Sells Homes Faster
• Winter Selling Myths That Shouldn't Keep You From Listing
• The Value of Local Market Knowledge When Selling Your Home
• Selling in Snowy Conditions: Safety, Access, and Presentation Tips

• Making Your Home Smell Like Home: Winter Scents That Attract Buyers
• Handling Relocation Buyers During the Holidays