5 Red Flags to Look for in a New Home

There are many factors to consider when searching for your next home, and not all of them are positive things. Make sure to keep an eye out for these five red flags when you are house-hunting!

1) Price is Too Low

Everybody likes a good deal, and that also applies to looking at homes. 

But you want to watch out for prices that are too good to be true. This could be an indicator that something is wrong with the house. 

Always talk to your realtor about homes like this, and if you are still interested in the house, then make sure you get a home inspection and get any damage or issues with the home disclosed to you from the owners and their realtor.

2) It Has a Cracked Foundation

Cracks in a foundation wall can pose many expensive and damaging problems to a home.

Left unattended, cracks can let moisture and water into your home; this creates the perfect conditions for mold to grow. Cracks can also draw pests into your home that can contaminate your food and water.

So make sure you check any homes you look at for foundation cracks.

3) It Has a Damp or Musty Smell

A damp or musty smell indicates water in the home and is most likely mold. Mold is extremely hazardous to your health and expensive to remove and fix. 

Mold grows where there is moisture, such as leaks in roofs, basements, or around doors or windows. It grows extremely well on paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, and wood. Mold can even grow in dust,  paints, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery. 

If you smell a damp or musty smell, make sure to get the home checked out for mold. Many home inspections also offer mold-specific inspections that detect mold spores in the air. 

4) Many of the Neighboring Homes are For Sale

If you notice that there are a lot of homes for sale on the same street or in the same neighborhood as the home you are looking at, this could be an indicator of something negative.

This could be a crime, flooding, or even as simple as one really bad neighbor driving everyone away. 

Whatever the reason, definitely check into it. It probably isn't a coincidence if you see multiple homes on the same street or its close vicinity for sale--there's usually a reason why.

5) Water Stains on the Ceiling

Water is one of the biggest destroyers of homes, which is why we have mentioned it in different forms multiple times in this post.

Water stains on the ceiling mean that water is coming in from somewhere on the roof. This could indicate that the roof needs repair or replacement, as well as indicating the possibility of a spot that is ideal for mold to grow if it hasn't already started.

These are just a few of the red flags to make sure you are looking out for when you are house hunting. Having an experienced realtor with you while you look at homes can help you catch other red flags as well, though!

If you are looking for an experienced Real Estate Agent in the Treasure Valley, make sure to give Kelley Simon a call! She has over 25 years of experience in Real Estate and has been a Top-Producing Realtor in the Treasure Valley for years. She will help you catch any issues in a potential home you are looking at so you can have peace of mind in your final choice!