When buying a house, it’s absolutely vital that you keep your eyes open for these red flags, lest you wind up with more problems than you can deal with.

Basement Bummers.

When you go visit local houses for sale, start your tour at the bottom, in the basement. Take a good strong whiff, and see if there’s any mustiness. If there is, there might be mold, which can pose a serious health hazard. Then, take a closer look at the walls, the fixtures, and the electrical outlets. If there are cracks or crumbles in the walls of the homes for sale, there may be foundation problems. If the fixtures are broken, you’re going to wind up being the one to repair them. If the electrical outlets aren’t looking too friendly, the homes for sale might need some expensive rewiring.

Bathroom Boo Boos.

Oftentimes, you may notice some water damage in the various homes for sale you’re interested in. It is, after all, a fairly common problem. However, if the floor is feeling a little spongy as you walk on it, then the wood below it is likely rotten, which will definitely be a costly repair.

Neighborhood No-Nos.

Don’t forget to take a look at the neighborhoods of all the homes for sale. They’re where you’re going to be living should you buy there, you know. If you see abandoned buildings, excessive amounts of trash, or graffiti on the walls, you’re probably not going to want to live there. On the other hand, if there are parks, local industries, people out for walks, convenient shops, churches, libraries, and clean streets, the neighborhood takes pride in itself, and is probably a place you would want to live in.

Watch out for these red flags as you look at your area’s homes for sale. Buying a house with foundation problems, excessive water damage, and a bad neighborhood is most certainly not a wise investment.

If you have any questions about finding a home for sale locally, feel free to share in the comments.