Buying a home is a very exciting experience, we start thinking of how we will decorate, entertaining friends and family, and all the memories to be made.

With all this excitement, it’s easy to have our judgment clouded and miss some important things that we otherwise wouldn’t have. 

Every seller knows the flaws of their home and we can only hope and trust that they are being completely honest with us about the condition of their home, however, that’s not always the case.

And rather than find yourself in a lengthy legal battle with the sellers, it’s best to keep an eye out for any red flags before you make an offer.

A few things buyers should be on the lookout for when purchasing a home are:  

The Trim Doesn’t Match Up

If the trim doesn’t match up this can be a sign that due care wasn’t taken when updating the home.

This may also mean that renovations were done without a permit or that the owner didn’t hire a licensed professional to complete them.

If a homeowner is cutting corners with visible parts of the home, you need to think about areas you can’t easily see such as electrical, insulation, plumbing, and much more. 

All curtains are closed

When selling a home you want to open the windows and coverings to allow as much light in as possible to showcase each room. Bright natural light also makes rooms appear larger.

If you see a home where the sellers have kept all window coverings closed, you need to open them and see what’s behind.

The seller could be hiding mold or mildew around the windows, leaky windows that are allowing water to seep into the home or between the panes, or simply a poor view.

Sold “As Is”

A home that is being sold ‘as is’ often means there’s work to be done that the seller does not want to complete before selling.

This may or may not be a bad thing. If they simply don’t want to repaint the walls or redo the floors and you were already planning to do that then it’s no problem.

However, if it’s something major such as structural damage or a leaking roof you may find yourself in over your head with repairs and renovations.

In cases of purchasing a home “as is” always have a property inspection done to properly assess the condition of the home. 

It has “great bones”

Unless you’re looking for a project and planning to do major renovations, avoid any home that is listed with the term “great bones”.

This often means the structure and foundation are in good condition but the home requires extensive updates.

These can range from simple updates such as repainting or updating the hardware to full renovations with electrical and plumbing upgrades. 

It may seem near impossible to be on the lookout for everything when purchasing a home and for that reason, you need to hire an agent you trust who has your best interests in mind at all times.

A trustworthy agent will notice the above-mentioned possible flaws as well as any others and bring them to your attention immediately.