When we begin dating someone, it’s easy to view our starting relationship-building as a series of tests to pass. In other words, you’re doing the hard math in your head to gauge compatibility. We can’t help it, it’s just part of the hard task of figuring out if someone is worth your time. Of course, that doesn’t mean a person can’t be more than a list of criteria, they are, but if they despise dogs and you love them, that could be an issue that warns you to leave further connection well enough alone.
The same can be said for house hunting. Not only are you thinking of investing your time, but the anchor of your life for a number of years. Moreover, houses, you might have noticed, tend to be quite expensive. This may be the most expensive asset you’ll own (as it is for many many people), and so figuring out what’s going on here is important.
However, just like a slight warning sign might not be the end of the world of possible romantic interest, it doesn’t have to be the case for a house you’re interested in either. Perhaps the house is well-constructed, beautifully designed, and perfectly situated. But maybe the garage is in a terrible state. Will that cause you to dismiss the opportunity? Possibly. Yet that could be a bad idea.
With that in mind, let’s consider how to avoid five faults scaring you away from a promising house purchase:
Window Damage
It’s pretty darn understandable that those cracked window panes and drafty frames might look concerning during a viewing. But window repairs or even full replacements are fairly standard home improvements that most homeowners tackle at some point. It’s made even easier if you can use a premium window replacement service that respects your visual preferences and installs within no time at all, keeping in mind a proper seal and worthwhile insulation.
A complete window upgrade for an average house costs less than you might think too, and modern double-glazed options will likely save you money on heating bills in the long run so it somewhat pays for itself. Noticing these errors is worthwhile too, because you can often negotiate these repairs into the purchase price.
Worn & Dishevelled Flooring
Most people get scared off by deep scratches in hardwood or stained carpets throughout the house, and to a degree that’s understandable, because bad flooring often gives a pretty harsh impression. But flooring problems look much worse than they really are, and remember that they are the most used surfaces in the entire household.
If the materials are any good, a basic refinishing job can bring old wood back to life, and even complete replacement costs less than most buyers imagine. The real charm is that flooring work rarely comes with surprise problems lurking underneath unless the house is very old or the previous owner made bizarre decisions. Unlike major structural repairs, you can price it out accurately before making your decision, and of course you can always pull up the flooring and implement your own preference, like changing the laminate in your kitchen for tiles.
Insufficient Insulation
Before you buy any house you’re most likely going to use the services of a home inspector to gauge any faults or issues with the home they don’t tell you about. Luckily, poor insulation shows up quickly on home inspections and energy assessments.
However, while that can seem like a pain, especially if you’re going to be moving in during winter, adding insulation is a one-time fix that pays for itself and can be relatively straightforward to implement. Modern materials are much more effective than what was available even ten years ago such as foam filling cracks or easily installed insulation boards and felt.
A professional can usually complete the work in a couple of days, and you won’t need to redo it for decades from that point on if it’s done correctly. While it’s true good insulation is essential for any home, that doesn’t render a space uninhabitable to begin with, so you can always get to this in your own time.
Nosy Neighbors
The couple peering over their fence during every viewing might seem like a deal breaker, and yes, that’s going to be the choice that remains the most understandable out of any on this list. That said, most neighbors settle down once new people move in and become part of the community.
A few well-placed trees or a privacy fence can solve immediate issues without creating bad feelings too, and like with any social relationship, you’re more than capable of defining how close you get to people, and the standards and boundaries you set there. Some formerly nosy neighbors even end up being the ones who collect your packages and keep an eye on things while you’re away on vacation.
For instance, if you’re coming from an urban environment where neighbors tend to be more anonymous and less intrusive for one another, simply having people know your name or knocking on your door for a chat now and then might seem crazy. But in a rural place most people will know one another. Just remember you don’t owe anyone your time here even if it is best to be friendly, and other people tend to get the idea that they’re not welcome if you’re clear about it.
That being said, if they warn you against certain neighbors, that might be the biggest dealbreaker. Sometimes a good community is best to live in a less valuable house for. It’s entirely up to you though, of course.
Questionable Landscaping
Finally, it’s true that messy garden, front or back or both, tends to scare away potential buyers faster than almost anything else. That’s easily because overgrown bushes and patchy grass make the whole property look neglected.
However, keep in mind that garden problems are mostly about time rather than money. This means that unlike serious house repairs, you can tackle the outdoor space bit by bit over several seasons. Some people even prefer starting with a blank slate rather than trying to work around someone else’s carefully planned garden that doesn’t match their style. You can always add certain improvements such as a rain garden later on.
With this advice, we hope you can more easily avoid feeling scared away from good properties you’re otherwise interested in.
