Tell-Tale Signs of a Problem

We've all seen them, commonly in the homes with the dead grass in the front yard, or the signage advertising the foreclosure.

Either inside the home, or perhaps outside, there are signs of a potentially serious problem. And possibly a health hazard. What do you do.?

The buyer is interested, so do you proceed or not?

Should we be providing any guidance?

In the case of this green pool and spa things didn't seem so bad. It might have been West Nile breeding grounds for all we know. There weren't any critters hovering over the pool and we could see the bottom. Maybe they just turned off the power and the filter hadn't run for several months. There were some other signs that suggested there were some other issues, but I am not a pool inspector. But it certainly raised some questions in my mind.

The sloping sidewalk section along the back corner of the reasonably attractive house I saw the other day was scary. Granted, there was no visible hole, but the dramatic slope (it was actually abouot 2 inches lowere than the rest of the sidewalk), the fact it had broken away from the rest of the sidewalk and the side of the house, and the large crack in the exterior wall of the house was concerning. I took photos for my out-of-state buyer and sent them along without saying much. I am no inspector but...anyhow, the buyer decided for himself that this looked risky. The slope inside the house in that corner made me pause.

I fortunately was NOT able to get me and my other buyer into one house in a beautiful gated complex the other day because of a non-functioning combo box. I say fortunate because by looking in all the glass doors and windows it was clear that this home had what I think may have been the dirtiest looking and most stained carpets I have ever seen. There are those signs that tell you large dogs have been around for an extended period without going for a walk, and this one had it in spades. My shoes actually gasped and groaned. Would this have been a good thing to walk into unawares? Hmmm. Wonder if the health department would have had anything to say? I doubt the agent knew - she was from another county.

BTW the windows were so dirty I don;t think my camera would have worked. 

And then there was the "mold" house my buyer told me about. After hearing about it, it was clear it was probably not a place they should have gone into...he said this himself. The extent of the black substance he thought was mold was beyond description, and that was what you could see...large holes in the walls suggested darker secrets lurking within. A potential health hazard? Probably. Certainly not a good place for a buyer to walk into with respiratory problems.

Another house had problems of its own but it wasn't clear what. We did think the investigative efforts were admirable, but wondered what the issues were, and how it was going to be repaired. Or is that the buyer's problem? Not mine, said my buyer. 

It seems that these sorts of properties used to be unique, and a rare surprise. I am now usually thrilled when I don't chance upon these problems. I do find myself worrying more about the health issues we seem to confront more regularly. There are some homes that should be posted "proceed at own risk."

Clearly there is a need to extensive due diligence when accosted with issues such as this. Problem is, is makes buyers wonder what else is going on that is not immediately obvious.

Maybe it's a great deal?

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