6 Green Flags That Real Estate Pros Look for When House Hunting

The right real estate agent is not just a great communicator with whom you easily connect—though they certainly should be that. They also bring valuable insight into all aspects of the home-buying process, which only comes from successfully going through it time and time again. “We’ve done this dozens, even hundreds of times,” says Jessica Poulos, broker/owner, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Northwest Home Team. “You hired us for our expertise and advice. Take it!”

Start with the following list of items that are always on real estate pros’ house-hunting radars.

1. Good Location

Surely you’ve heard it said that the top three most important things about property are location, location, and location. It’s a truism that Will Palmer, a broker/owner with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Historic/Coast Properties, stands behind. “Kitchens can be updated, baths can be freshened up, walls can be painted and landscapes can be boosted, but the one thing you can never change is the location of the property,” he says.

Safety, walkability, parks, and a highly rated school district are just some of the considerations agents look for—the more positives, the better. Buyers have their own priorities, too, as well as unique preferences such as proximity to work and family, and preferred community amenities and culture.

2. Neat Exterior

Curb appeal is one thing. A tidy entry, complementary color scheme, and sweet window boxes aren’t just welcoming, they can boost a home’s value. Agents caution you to look a little more closely, though. Red flags include rotted trim around windows and doors, moisture between window panes, pooling water, and an uneven roofline, says Eddie Gutierrez, real estate agent with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate in Gaetano Marra Home.

One issue may not be a deal breaker, but more than that could signal bigger and costlier problems, including a homeowner’s tendency to defer maintenance. If the exterior is tidy but visually lacking, your agent isn’t likely to let that dissuade you. You could likely boost a home’s curb appeal significantly over a dedicated weekend.

3. Move-In Readiness

Agents prefer homes that don’t come with big projects, as they’re a much easier sell. “Buyers often say they’ll consider a fixer-upper, but unless they’re serious DIYers, they don’t follow through,” Palmer says. During the house-hunting process, the true skills and costs necessary become apparent, he says, and it dawns on buyers that the upfront savings may not be worth it—a truth he knows all too well. “I myself just remodeled a 1920s English cottage. I thought I might spend $40K to $50K on the reno,” he says. “In the end, I spent over $100K.” Renovations almost always cost more than you think they will.

4. Dry and Tidy Basement

Agents say it’s both practical and essential to evaluate a prospective home’s basement, which could reveal high-dollar issues. Gutierrez looks for straight, sturdy walls free from cracks or signs of water, including efflorescence, a white powdery residue left when water evaporates. Mud tubes signal termites, he says, and rodent droppings can be a sign of poor insulation.

Use your nose, too—a musty smell means mold. And be on the lookout for signs of a coverup. “If the basement was recently painted, ask questions to make certain they are not hiding anything,” he says. Some go for fresh caulking, new basement flooring, or any off-limits areas.

5. Resale Value

Real estate agents tend to instinctively keep resale value top of mind on their client’s behalf. “I am aware of items that the current clients may not be thinking about that can cause other buyers to avoid a home,” says Cathy Hirsch, realtor with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate The Good Life Group. “I’ll say something like, ‘I know you mentioned this noisy road doesn’t bother you, but it’s common for other buyers to tell me to exclude homes on a busy street.’”

Hirsch understands that buyers may be so happily focused on their current wants and needs that they don’t want to flash forward to a time when they’re parting ways with a property they’re currently falling in love with. But she considers it her duty to at least make them aware of the fact that they’d be preemptively limiting their future buyer’s pool.

6. Motivated Seller

Agents also like to be aware of homes that are getting overlooked, which can signal a seller who’s ready to make a deal. Multiple price reductions, vacancy, and being on the market longer than the current average are some of the most common signs, Gutierrez says.

Once they’re IDed, the next step is checking with the listing agent to find out why it hasn’t been snapped up. Most likely, it falls short in one of the categories listed above. While this is a non-starter for many, it’s an opportunity for the right buyer. “You can negotiate a better price, and maybe use a renovation loan to make the repairs and remodel,” Gutierrez says.

Source: Berit Thorkelson, bhg.com