Real estate expert shares the main red flag to look out for when buying a house
There is one huge red flag that you have to look out for when buying a house, according to this real estate expert.
Lorraine Jordan, who has sold over 10,000 homes, claimed that a lot of people overlook this one thing, as well as a number of other key features when purchasing their dream home.
With over 22,000 Instagram followers and 34 years of experience in the industry, Lorraine is bestowing her wisdom upon many aspiring home-owners.
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Firstly, she has urged people to leave emotions at the door when viewing potential new properties, revealing that 'people buy on emotion most of the time'.
Because many want it to look perfect, they expect it to be something out of a story, but Lorraine has advised buyers to remember that it is an investment above all, so logic is key in your decision.
She revealed: "People end up paying more money because it's storybook-looking - rather than looking at all the practical stuff."
Having bought her first property at just 18 years old, and by selling 100 properties a year on average by her own accord, Lorraine is a true expert in the industry.
She has emphasised that when buying a house, overlooking the small details can be costly in the long run.
The real estate agent explained that small details give away the face that current owners may be trying to cover up bigger problems.
Lorraine revealed the one key thing that all new home-owners should be weary of is fresh paint, particularly in the basement, as she claimed: "If I see that, I'm going to look for water signs.
"I'm going to take a flashlight and get down on my stomach under the staircase and see if there's a water stain line underneath the back of the stairs."
Other factors to look out for is backsplash or tiling near the cooker in the kitchen, stating that she would do more digging if a brand new kitchen was put in to see if they 'missed out' on anything.
She continued: "Look at the woodworking: If you've cut corners on that, what did you do behind the wall where I can't see?"
The expert also noted it was key to check the carpet, roof, windows, and even how old the boiler in the house is, as an indicator of water signs.
"Those are the real pitfalls, those are the areas where if it's wrong you will end up paying thousands, but people end up getting caught up in what colour the walls are," she added.
"That's the cheapest thing to change."
Lorraine also highlighted other things to look out for, like not being distracted by the furniture and decorations in a house while viewing it, as just because the house is in a wealthy area and is renovated, doesn't mean it is exempt from any issues.
The real estate guru also advised buyers not to go for a house that had no show furniture, as you risk making it look and feel small when you purchase it and put your own in.
There is also a prime time to sell houses, with autumn and winter being the best time as the market is less saturated. And according to the expert, night-time viewings are ideal for serious buyers, despite popular belief that summer daytime viewings are the best.
Joshua Nair