Buying a home, condo, or apartment is the single biggest financial investment the vast majority of people will ever make. And for people who are first-time buyers, the whole process can be not only intimidating, but also overwhelming — which can lead them to overlooking or not knowing what to look for when viewing homes.
Well recently, I came across this Reddit thread from several years ago where the user asked: "Real estate agents of Reddit, what's a subtle red flag to look out for when buying a house?"
The thread got thousands of responses, and not just from realtors, but also from homeowners who learned from experience. Below are the top, best, and most-often-repeated comments:
1. "Fresh paint, new carpet, but nothing else updated. It's the realtor remodel special. Just there to make you feel good on your 15-minute walk-through. Look at the tiles, trim, foundation to see what you really need to know. And always drive through the neighborhood at night if you do not know it."
2. "Go to showings when it's rainy as f**k, then check out the basement. This will expose any water issues with the foundation that even a moron like me could see. One house I was shown had a cable run into the basement from outside at the dirt level and never sealed — so there was a stream of water pouring over the circuit breaker box onto the basement floor. Passed on that house."
Read more: https://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/red-flags-to-look-for-when-buying-a-house