Buying a Home? Here Are 6 Problems That Shouldn’t Be Deal Breakers

In buying a home, the wise buyer makes a list of red flags to watch out for when shopping around. However, some of these red flags may not be total deal beakers at all. Some may even be winning features in disguise.

Here are 5 “deal breakers” that aren’t as bad as they seem:

1. Outdated décor or design

Tacky furniture and unappealing wallpaper may be eyesores but they shouldn’t be instant deal breakers. Don’t be easily repelled by cosmetic issues like tattered carpeting or grease-coated kitchen walls. Look beyond these simple defects and see if the home has other good points.

When we talk about good points here, we mean a house with a nice layout, plenty of natural light, and appealing architecture. A little patching up may be all that’s needed for the home to reach its full potential.

You should also consider other deciding factors like the following: is it in your ideal neighborhood? Is it near your workplace? Does it have good schools for the kids? If the house ticks all those boxes, then the home might just be what you’re looking for.

2. Cracked walls or ceilings

Cracks in walls and ceilings may look unflattering but these don’t necessarily mean that there’s a structural issue with the home. Cracks are often caused by the house settling over the years and not because of a damaged foundation.

Older homes, especially those built before the 1950s, usually have interior walls made of lath and plaster. Plaster walls easily crack as the years go by because of gravity. Nevertheless, living in these homes is like living in a part of history, and that’s a great plus point.

3. Mold

It may come as a surprise for many to know that mold, dry rot or fungus in a home isn’t that bad. When it comes to mold, only very few types are really harmful to the house and its homeowners. A home inspection can easily figure out whether the mold in the house is toxic or not.

Non-toxic mold is also fairly easy to remove as long as it doesn’t span a large portion of the property. Remove it with solutions like chlorine bleach, hydrogen peroxide, distilled white vinegar, and baking soda and borax. These products are readily available where cleaning products are sold.

4. Dry rot or fungus

The home inspection can also reveal the presence of dry rot or fungus. This is not a sign that the house is ready to collapse on itself. It could simply mean that the previous homeowner wasn’t very good at maintaining the home’s exterior and unwittingly let water in. As long as the damage is found in small isolated areas, the house can still be a good contender for your attention.

5. Pests

Finding a home clear of any bugs or other pests is actually harder than it seems. Although no one is fond of seeing cockroaches running around the home, sometimes it’s unavoidable. A few minor bug problems in the home is something that can be solved with a good exterminator.

The best way to find out if the bug problem is bigger than it seems is by hiring a pest expert. They’ll tell you whether or not the house has any pest-related structural damage and if you should move on to another potential property.

6. Bad listing photos

Photographs don’t always show the property in the best light possible. Visit the house and see for yourself whether it’s worth bidding on. You might be surprised to find that the house with bad listing photos is actually a great property with an amazing deal.

Need help finding a home that’s right for you? Get in touch with us at the SET Realty Group by calling (404) 348-2373 or email [email protected].