Thursday, December 1, 2011

Avoid These Red Flags When Shopping For Your Brantford Home!

Shopping for a new home is an exciting time: you get to move in to a brand-new place with a fresh environment and atmosphere. You also get to welcome a new neighborhood, such as Brantford, ON, into your life and call it home. Sometimes, in the excitement of making a big life change, many Brantford homebuyers would forget to look at some key indicators of a home. This can be a costly error.

In this real estate market, many home sellers are motivated and eager to get their home off the market. As a result, they may not disclose all aspects of the home to you. That’s why, as a Brantford real estate agent, I make it a priority to look out for my buyers’ best interests. Part of that is telling buyers exactly what to look for during their home search.

As a Brantford home buyer, you need to be on the lookout for red flags and things about the property that may need maintenance or repairs. If you don’t spend time inspecting the property thoroughly, then you could wind up with some costly repairs or major damages. Here are a few red flags you should look out for during your home search:

•    Are people leaving the street? If you’re seeing a lot of “For Sale” signs on the street or homes that look boarded up or neglected, then you may want to consider passing over the home. There’s a reason people are leaving the street. Get the scoop from the neighbors. It may help you avoid a bad investment.

•    Are plants growing in the gutters? Mediocre maintenance is a sign of a neglected home. Once you move in, you’re going to have a lot of work ahead of you if you have to patch up shoddy maintenance jobs done by the previous owners. Be on the lookout for this and ask the sellers to take care of it before moving in.

•    How solid is the foundation? Take a look at the yard. Is it sloping towards the house? That could cause water to run into the basement and create costly damages. Scour the foundation of each house you’re interested in looking at further. If you notice a lot of cracks or signs of wear, you will be stuck with some expensive renovations or maintenance fees.

•    Use your nose. Are you noticing strange odors in the interior or exterior of the home? Do you smell excessive bowls of potpourri? Both are major red flags, as it means the home may have mold or other issues, and the smell may never fully leave once the owners leave.

•    Does only one wall have fresh paint? Fresh paint jobs are a plus, but if you’re only noticing it on one wall, then chances are the owner is trying to cover up an issue, whether it be water damage or mildew. If you notice only one wall has fresh paint, be sure to ask the seller why and have your home inspector take a closer look at it.

The bottom line is this: If you’re truly interested in moving in to a Brantford home, then you need to get a home inspection. Getting an inspection will help you avoid being stuck with a home that involves costly maintenance and major renovations right away. Moving is stressful enough…you don’t need to add home damages to the mix.

As a Brantford real estate agent, I make it a priority to educate homebuyers on what they should be looking for during their search for the perfect property. Red flags such as these are important to look out for. If you have any questions, or are considering buying a home on the Brantford real estate market, don’t hesitate to contact me! I have several years of experience in real estate, and I’ve seen and heard it all. I hope to hear from you soon.

Wally Dufrat | Sales Representative
RE/MAX Twin City Realty, Inc. Brokerage
515 Park Road North | Brantford, ON N3R 7K8
Direct:  (519) 752-5400 & (877) 759-5900 | Cell: (519) 761-7400 | Fax: 519-752-3400

Before You Buy or Sell Your Next Home, Visit My Websites at:
www.BrantofordHomeInfo.com or www.FreeBrantfordHomeInfo.com for FREE Information!
 

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