If you are buying a home for sale in South Lake Tahoe, chances are high that you have either walked through a lot of homes, or are about to. A couple years back Realtor.com wrote a blog comparing real estate to dating. It was tongue in cheek but it was accurate. When shopping for a home, you need to look beyond the name brand appliances, recent upgrades or the layout of the home. Of course if these things are important to you, take note. However, there are more important things to keep an eye out for and you should not be distracted by professional staging or recent upgrades. So what should you really be looking for? Read on.
Red flag No. 1: Does it smell to good to be true?
Yes, if you are selling South Lake Tahoe real estate, you should make sure your home smells good. However, that means getting to the root of the smell and banishing it for good. It does not mean putting air fresheners in every single room and baking fresh cinnamon rolls. As a buyer, if you walk into a home and the smell is over the top, start inspecting to make sure the sellers aren’t trying to cover something up. Go into each room and let your nose do the detective work. If you can’t pick anything up, look for smoke, mold, mildew or pet accidents.
Red Flag 2: Bad tiling
Make sure there aren’t any gaps or slightly uneven tiles. If the house was flipped or the owner did some DIY projects around the home for sale in South Lake Tahoe, it could mean other projects were done on the cheap and cost you down the road with more expensive repairs.
Red flag No. 3: Signs of neglected maintenance
Speaking of……pay attention for anything that may indicate the homeowner let basic home maintenance needs slide. This could be old paint, burned out bulbs, leaky faucets, full gutters or even a damaged screen on a window. These are easy and affordable fixes and can be signs that the home has not been well maintained. Of course, you can always ask your Realtor in South Lake Tahoe for a list of repairs or recent upgrades. If you really want the home for sale in South Lake Tahoe, you can make an offer and wait for the inspection report to come back to determine any issues. If it turns out pricy repairs are needed, you can walk away or use this knowledge to negotiate price.
Red flag No. 4: Foundation issues
Foundation is important and it is normal for South Lake Tahoe real estate to have some hairline cracks due to settling. Large gaps mean there are possible issues afoot but how can you tell without an inspection? Uneven floors, cracks above the window frames and doors sticking are just a few. Be sure to chat with an inspector or your South Lake Tahoe realtor ahead of time to find out what you should be looking for.
Red flag No. 5: Flooding
It is no secret Lake Tahoe and our surrounding area has had a crazy winter complete with flooding. While the California drought is over (for now) and we are all very thankful, look for water when you are buying real estate in South Lake Tahoe. Is there a possibility having the Truckee River close by could mean flooding in your home? If so, you will need to look into flood insurance and what your options are. It also means you will want to pay close attention to possible water damage. Whether from a flood or a burst pipe (also something that can happen during our snowy winters), check exposed pipes and make sure they aren’t leaking or have rust or water stains. Also, you may not see water damage but if there is a musty odor, find out what the source is.
Red flag No. 6: Mold
While we are on the topic of water damage, check for potential signs of mold in the South Lake Tahoe real estate for sale. Open up sink cabinets to look for any grey or black spots around drains or pipes. The caulking on tubs or faucets are also a good place to look for black or grey spots. In fact, if you see any black or grey spots anywhere in the house, it could mean mold. Tread carefully if you spot these!
Red flag No. 7: Weird windows
New windows are expensive, so make sure that you do your due diligence and check for windows that slide easily and don’t have lopsided frames. If you run into these problems it could be foundation issues as we already covered, OR a poorly done install.
Red flag No. 8: Visual enhancements
Who doesn’t love a little cosmetic rejuvenation? Just make sure it isn’t a distraction to cover something up. Like ONE freshly painted accent wall could be hiding something sinister….like mold. Since South Lake Tahoe realtors generally advise home owners to go neutral, a bright or dark freshly painted wall could potentially mean a cover up. Also look under rugs, behind big furniture or art pieces if they seem oddly placed. Move furniture if you feel the need, so long as you put it back. It isn’t just mold you are looking for. Check for animal accidents, holes, scratches and other damages such as improper ventilation which can result in mold, peeling or bubbling paint.
The reality is this: When you walk through South Lake Tahoe real estate, take note of the upgrades and furniture layout. This does impact if the home is a good fit for you and your lifestyle. However, what is happening below the surface is more important and should be the focus. If something doesn’t seem right, bring it up with your South Lake Tahoe realtor. For more information on purchasing real estate in South Lake Tahoe, give me a call.
