Finally, you have found a house in Illinois that you love. The down payment and mortgage are no problem, but there is more to do before officially moving forward. Home inspections are a critical part of the process, but you can take a few steps on your own to determine whether anything may be “off” about the property.
HuffPost offers ways sellers attempt to conceal issues with a house. Keep the following in mind the next time you tour a home for sale.
Love seat without a sofa
Surely there is nothing fishy about a living room with a love seat but no sofa, right? While the presence of a love seat is not a major sign of something sinister going on, it could be an indication that the room is not very large. A regular-sized couch may not fit into the room easily, information that may be helpful to know if you have larger furniture that may not fit elsewhere or prefer a larger main gathering area.
Music during open house
Take a moment to stop and listen the next time you tour a home. If there is music playing, it could mask the sounds of nearby traffic or the incessant barking of the neighbor’s dog.
Air fresheners
Candles, diffusers and air fresheners can help create ambiance in a home. Unfortunately, they may also conceal a problem with the property’s septic system, lingering cigarette smoke from neighbors or pet odors.
Lights in the middle of the day
Take note of how the house is lit when you stop by. If there are lights on in the middle of the day, turn them off to see what kind of natural light the property gets.
You deserve to know everything about a house before you make an offer. Educate yourself on the tricks that sellers and real estate agents use to hide more undesirable aspects of a property.
