How To Spot A Dodgy House Sale From A Mile Away

When we think about buying a car, there are many easy checks we can do. We can look through the maintenance logbook, the ownership history, even test drive around the local area for a little while to make sure the handling is good and the brakes work. You can’t really do the same for a household. No house buyer is going to give you a two-week live-in trial period just to make sure you feel comfortable there, that all the plumbing works and the insulation really is as good as promised.

Unfortunately, this means that sometimes, people buy houses with issues they didn’t know about. It’s easy to feel silly in such circumstances, but really, t’s the obligation of the buyer to be candid about the condition of a property and its maintenance need. 

That’s hardly the only set of issues that could impact a home, though. In this post, we’ll discuss various points that should have you running a mile from a property sale, even if you like the house in question:

Improper Land Listings

Buying a house with issues you didn’t know about can feel awful, but it’s important to remember that it’s the seller’s obligation to be honest about a property’s condition. One major red flag is an improper land listing. This can happen if the land boundaries are not what is stated in the listing or if the property includes land that the seller doesn’t actually own. You should always verify the property lines and deeds to make sure you’re getting exactly what you’re paying for, otherwise, you could find yourself in a very difficult legal battle down the road. Conveyancing solicitors can help you if you’ve been mis-sold land.

Subtle Foundational Damage Or Subsidence

Occasionally, the most dangerous problems with a home are the ones you can’t see right away, and that can include subtle foundational damage or subsidence. This usually defines a home as more than a “fixer-upper” and should be considered a large red flag, because they’re usually very costly to fix. 

While inspecting the home, you should look for small cracks in the walls or uneven floors and doors that don’t close properly, as these can all be signs of a shifting foundation. It’s always a good idea to hire a professional to inspect the home before you purchase it, though,  so they can find any hidden problems.

A Quick Rotating History Of Sellers

A home that has changed owners many times in a short period is a definite cause for concern. People usually buy a house to live there for at least a few years, so if a property has been sold frequently, there is likely a good reason for it. This can mean that previous owners have discovered a major issue that was not disclosed to them. 

You could ask your real estate agent to look into the home’s past sales history, and if you see that it’s been sold many times over a short period, it’s probably best to walk away from the sale. If at all concerned, ask neighbors too, as perhaps they know the real reason.

With this advice, we hope you can more easily spot a dodgy house sale from a mile away.