Real Estate Blog - Add This to the Red Flag Warnings for Home Buyers

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Add This to the Red Flag Warnings for Home Buyers

Each month, HGTV's FrontDoor.com issues a list of top tips for buyers and sellers. The latest one of red flags for home buyers has the usual caveats about foundation cracks, poor yard maintenance, lots of homes on the street for sale, homeowner renovations that may not be up to code, and more. Two items on the list stood out.

The first mentioned "off limit" rooms or areas, and that an interested buyer should request to see the entire home before considering making an offer. I have never encountered "off limit" rooms, have you? Why would a room be "off limits" unless there was a problem? Why would you put a house on the market with a problem and why would you expect someone to buy without seeing the entire home? Why would you not think to ask to see this forbidden terrritory?

The second cautioned buyers to beware of only one newly painted wall. It suggested that there may have been a major problem that had been repaired and to be sure to ask about it. It's a good point, and I have resolved to mention this to any homeowner who is considering touching up just one wall in a room to make it look fresh. Better to remove all doubt and make the entire room look good-or will that be suspicious too? Hmm

To read the article go to FrontDoor.com.

Posted by Pam Faulkner-Faulkner House Redesign Stager-Northern VA-Fairfax & Loudoun Co on 04/18/2008 08:17 PM

Comments (4)

hgtv, frontdoorcom, red flags, warnings, painting, buyers tips, sellers tips, staging, advice, offlimit rooms

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4 Comments on Add This to the Red Flag Warnings for Home Buyers

APR

2008

I've shown a house or two with locked rooms. One of the homes had a gun collection that they put off limits. Never did find out about the other.

I have shown a couple of properties that had locked doors. Usually it was a renter's room. But, it would have been nice had the agent put this in the notes, and mentioned how to show it when all rooms are available.

To me this says the owner is not ready to let go of the house. Items can be relocated, in the case of a renter, that is understandable, but as a "landlord" the homeowner still has the right toe enter with proper notice. Perhaps a picture or description can be given. I would say this is not the norm.

I've done consults on two with locked rooms. One had guns like Lorrie and the other had a beer stein collection. My written report recommended removing EVERYthing from either/both rooms and moving forward. They didn't, neither house sold and both have gone into foreclosurer. Of course, those locked rooms weren't the only issues, but they were major issues.

Now the painting issue, I don't know. I have had sellers repaint awall in a room that had many small holes that had to be patched from large artwork etc. and of course the whole room could have used painting but they didn't want "to go that far". I will check out the website. Thanks for the link.

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