Searching for a new home is exciting — especially when you find what seems to be the perfect house. But appearances can be deceiving. A home’s biggest issues can hide in plain sight if you don’t know what to look for. And if you aren’t careful, you could end up with a lemon for a new house that will cost you far more than imagined down the road. Try not to fall in love with a house before you know all the facts — including any red flags. By keeping a cool head and your eyes open, you’ll make a wiser decision and know for sure that your new home is worth every dollar. Here’s a handful of red flags to keep an eye out for to get started.

Water Stains And Damage

As you tour a home before putting in an offer, check for water damage in the form of stains, bubbles, or spots.

If there’s a lot of water staining on the floors, ceiling, or walls, it could lead to paint discoloration, surface imperfections or roughness, and other aesthetic or structural problems. In some cases, water stains may eventually develop holes or cracks in the walls or floors from deterioration or corrosion. Water stains on a home’s exterior look like bubbles underneath the surface and may indicate that the vinyl siding needs replacing or hasn’t been properly sealed. Water stains inside are also a good indication that there may be a leaky roof or pipes — both of which can be expensive to repair.

Doors That Don’t Fully Close

When a door doesn’t close well, it may mean that the framing members have shifted. That means the door no longer fits the frame, so any future homeowner may have to cut off a small slice of the door’s top or bottom to force it closed. This can occur due to improper construction, foundational issues, weather, and more. Check each door in a home before buying a new house. If you see one that has a bit of wood shaved off the edge, it means that the homeowner had to deal with this issue in the past.

Missing Shingles Or Multiple Layers Of Shingles

Missing shingles are a self-explanatory red flag. They indicate that the roof needs repairs or roof roof replacement. But multiple layers of shingles could mean that the current or previous homeowner is trying to hide something or that a roofing company did subpar work in the past. Multiple layers of shingles can also add unnecessary weight and trap heat, both of which are bad for a home.

Bargain-Basement Priced Homes

Aside from physical issues, you should also take note if a house is being advertised at an absolute rock-bottom price. Always heed the saying, “If it’s too good to be true, it probably is.” Say that you’re looking for a home in a popular neighborhood with great schools or excellent access to local shops and entertainment. If one house is being advertised at a price well below competitive rates for the area, why do you think that is?

The property’s owner or real estate agent isn’t doing it to give you a deal — so there could be something wrong with the house to warrant the discount.

Inspect Your Roof As Soon As Possible

Even if it seems perfect at first, you should never purchase a house without a top-to-bottom check from a reputable inspector. In fact, your mortgage lender may require you to get a home inspected before they’ll underwrite a loan. Fortunately, the cost of a home inspection is typically included in the sale’s closing costs.

A thorough house inspection checklist will include checks for:

• Any structural defects.
• Minor flaws or issues with appliances.
• Any current or future maintenance concerns.
• Issues with the home’s roof.
• Problems with the home’s systems (heating, A/C, etc.).

In some cases, an inspector will value a home to make sure it’s being sold for a fair price in terms of market value. Always let a roof professional in Westfield, like the team at Nextgen Roofing in Westfield, do a final, deep dive into a property before you buy. You’ll thank yourself afterward if they uncover anything you missed. Call today for a free estimate.