40 Freeholder Pitfalls to Avoid

Shannon Quinn - September 27, 2019

Photo: Credit: Shutterstock

It is an investment in your future, and the it just may be place where your family will call “home” for the next 30 years. So it only makes sense that you should be careful before you commit to getting a mortgage and signing any contracts. Real Estate agents are trying to get a commission, so they are not always going to be honest with you about the amount of work that is needed to fix up a house. This is why we have prepared 40 red flags to watch out for before you commit to buying a house.

You don’t want to be living right next to a factory like this. Photo Credit: Oaklizm/Shutterstock

40. Keep Away From Industrial Areas

If you can avoid it, do not buy a house near an industrial area. This can be especially dangerous if the nearby factories are spewing harmful chemicals into the air. Throughout history, industrial areas always have higher rates of cancer and lung problems. Companies will always try to fight it in court, saying that there is not enough substantial evidence to prove that there is a link. But local residents would tell you otherwise.

On top of the polluted air and water, there is usually a lot more noise, and potentially huge spotlights kept on at night, which will make it hard to fall asleep. They are also usually situated near a train track, which will come by several times a day. To make matters worse, these are usually lower income areas with a higher crime rate. Even if you find a house in an industrial area that is a very good deal, it may be for a good reason.

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39. Always Ask To See Inside of the Attic

The attic is very important, because you can see if there is any junk leftover from previous owners. It will also be easy to spot if there is any kind of rodent infestation. You also need to see if it is properly insulated. A house can lose the majority of its heat from a poorly insulated roof.

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On top of all of that, you may see some old wiring that needs to be replaced, or a leak in the roof. Basically, there is a lot that can go wrong in an attic, and it will all be revealed once you are up there.

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38. Strong Perfume Smells

If you go on a house tour, pay attention to how it smells. If the real estate agent has used Glade Plugins in nearly every room, or if they sprayed everywhere with air freshener, this is a huge red flag. This probably means that they are trying to cover up a bad smell.

The previous owner may have been a smoker, or they could have owned several pets. Remember that once the Glade Plugins go away, the house itself probably reeks.

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37. Loads of Houses on the Market

When you are searching for a new house, you are probably going to towns that you are not familiar with. If you drive through a neighborhood and notice that there are a lot of houses for sale, this is a red flag. Why are all of these people suddenly deciding it’s time to move?

Do some research to see if anything has happened in that town recently the news. There may have been a horrific crime, or another serious reason why people want to leave.

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Check the school enrollment rates in your new town. Photo Credit: Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock

36. School Enrollment Rate Drops

When you are thinking of buying a house, you may want to settle down and make this your “forever home” where your kids will grow up. Before you move there, always look into the local school system. If the enrollment rate is on a steady decline, or if you see a sudden drop-off, this probably means there was an issue. There was probably a crisis that happened with the staff.

Always look into the quality of the school system. Photo Credit: Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock

If there was nothing that happened to suddenly make the numbers go down, they may simply have a bad reputation, and parents want their kids to go to a different school. If you want to know more, visit your local municipal building and ask around for the scoop.

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35. Check The Basement For A Sloppy DIY

Most modern houses are built with finished basements. These are done professionally, and have everything built up to code. But then there are basements that were unfinished, and the previous owner of the house decided to save money by doing the work themselves. This can lead to foundation issues, leaking, and more.

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So, how can you tell if the basement was done by the owner? The corners are usually different from one another, or the drywall may be uneven. The windows may have a metal frame, which come standard with construction. A professional builder would replace it with a nicer vinyl window. If you can tell that this was a DIY, you will likely have to bring in a building inspector to make sure the basement is up to code, and it may force you to hire your own contractor to fix all of the problems.

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34. The “As Is” Clause

You should always read your contracts carefully before you agree to buy a home. One of the biggest red flags is when you see the “as is” clause. Realtors only bother to include that when they know that a house is very old, and likely to have some serious issues. It is also common when you are buying a foreclosure, and they bank did not do their due diligence to inspect the home and fix any major problems.

Keep in mind that in most towns, you will be required to get a certificate of occupancy, or “CO” before you can move in. So before you commit to buying the house, have an inspector look over the property to let you know if there are any major issues that would prevent you from moving in immediately.

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33. Beware of Crazy Neighbors

A house may be perfect, and you have no idea that the next-door neighbors are crazy. Sometimes, it is hard to tell what kinds of people live next door. But try to pay attention to people walking down the street, or the types of things you see on people’s front lawns.

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If you are touring a house, or visiting on your own, a neighbor may even come out to say “hello”. This could be a sign that they are friendly, or just way too nosy. Try to use your intuition with this one, and examine your surroundings as much as possible.

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32. Overgrown Plants

When you are looking at houses, watch for overgrown plants climbing up the wall. An ivy-covered house may be beautiful, but it could be covering up something bad underneath. Keep in mind that ivy only grows when it can “climb” on cracks in the bricks or mortar. It could be a sign that these cracks need to be repaired, and it may be causing a draft.

On the East Coast of the United States, there is also the chance that the home may be hiding poison sumac and poison ivy. This can cause itchy red rashes all over your body, and you may need to call in a specialist to get the plants removed.

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31. Closed Businesses & Empty Storefronts

Ever since the Great Recession in 2008, stores were closing all across America. It is now all too common to see a business shut down not long after they began. However, it is now 2019, and the economy has had 11 years to recover. Now, there are new stores and restaurants opening in towns that are doing well economically.

So if you drive through a town and see that the businesses are still closed, this is a sign that they are continuing to struggle. Empty storefronts can potentially lead to higher levels of crime and poverty. This also means that you will probably have to drive far away to get your grocery shopping done.

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30. Is The House in a Flood Zone?

When a house is nowhere near water, most people do not bother worrying about flood zones. However, even if you live inland, you could still potentially be in a flood zone. A perfect example of this is the major flooding in Texas we have seen in recent years. Texas is an inland state, so it is nowhere near the ocean. But during heavy rain fall, rivers and estuaries can fill up with so much water, houses are completely underwater.

Aftermath of Hurricaine Harvey. Photo Credit: MDay Photography/Shutterstock

FEMA has a flood map where you can search by address to know if you are in a flood zone. Nearly everywhere in the US can potentially flood, but there are some areas that are considered high risk, and others are low risk. If the home you want to buy is in a high risk area, you may want to get flood coverage on your home owners insurance.

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29. The Septic System

In most rural areas, houses have their own septic systems, since they are too far apart to be connected to a city sewer line. If this is the case with the house you are buying, you will be responsible for having it pumped. This must be done by a professional company. It only costs $100 to $200 to have it pumped, and you could do it once a year, or every two years.

Before you breathe a sigh of relief, you need to beware of potential updates to your local Environmental Protection Agency standards. If the house is located anywhere near a nature reservation area, they may force you to replace the septic system. This could cost upwards of $10,000 before you are even allowed to flush the toilet! Always have an inspector look at the septic system before you buy the property.

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28. Badly Maintained Homes

When you are thinking of buying a house, take a drive around the surrounding streets to get a good feel for the neighborhood. If you see a lot of houses that are not well maintained, this is usually a sign that the owners can no longer afford to take care of their houses. This could be overgrown grass, peeling paint, or a porch roof that is crooked.

This is usually a warning sign that the families in the surrounding area do not have any pride in their home. It may be that they are about to go into foreclosure, and this can eventually lead to having an abandoned house on your street. This will decrease your property value, and it can lead to higher crime rates.

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Sometimes, a street will flood after a storm. Photo Credit: Moab Republic/Shutterstock

27. Drainage Issues

We already mentioned how the house you are thinking of buying may be in a flood zone. One of the indicators if you are going to have a problem is poor drainage in the town planning. Some neighborhood streets fill up with water every time in rains, because there are no storm drains.

Streets of Southern Florida after Hurricane Sandy. Photo Credit: Time Out/Shutterstock

This is a huge red flag, and one of the first signs that it could get far worse during a bad rain storm or blizzard. Excess water could leak into your basement, destroy the foundation, or cause mold to form in your home. Always drive past the house after it has rained to see the conditions of the road.

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26. A Privacy Fence

When you tour the backyard, always pay attention to see if there is a privacy fence. If there is no a fence, you might figure that you will eventually get around to installing one yourself. However, most first-time home buyers do not realize that a privacy fence costs several thousand dollars. So unless you are willing to take out a loan or dive into your savings, you may go without a privacy fence for a long time if it was not there in the first place.

Without a privacy fence, you may not be able to enjoy your own backyard. The neighbor’s dog may bark at you every time you go outside, or suddenly it feels very weird to have your barbecue when you can feel your neighbor’s eyes glaring at you over your shoulder. If privacy is important to you, make sure there is a fence.

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25. Mold

If you are aware that the home had water damage at some point, there may be mold hiding inside of the walls. Always take a big sniff in the basement and attic to see if there is any hint of a musty smell. Mold can lead to serious health issues like allergies, asthma, and more. It takes a lot more than a bit of bleach to make mold go away permanently.

Hiring a professional mold removing team can cost between $500 and $6,000.

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Some houses only having parking along the streets. Photo Credit: Zoltan Major/Shutterstock

24. Little-to-no Parking

When you are looking at a prospective property, always look to see what the parking situation is like on that street. Even if you only have one car at the moment, the day may come when you may have kids who want to drive, too. Or you may need to upgrade your ride to a larger minivan.

You want to make sure your house has enough parking, and possibly a garage. Photo Credit: Imagenet/Shutterstock

Some houses in urban areas force you to park on the street, which means you may end up walking a few blocks to get to your own house. No one wants to get parking tickets at home, or lug groceries down the street.

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This is what termites can do to a wooden beam. Photo Credit: wk1003mike/Shutterstock

23. Termites

Having termites in your home can be a nightmare. They eat the wood inside of your walls, which will eventually damage the beams holding up your house. Typically, termites only eat wet wood. They usually appear if you have a hole in your roof, and it is causing the wood of your home to dampen. This means that termites are never a singular problem, but rather a whole symphony of issues.

A professional exterminator will need to treat your home for termites. Photo Credit: Surachet Jo/Shutterstock

Not sure how to spot them? These yucky creatures usually leave behind piles of sand and wood shavings along the baseboards. And if you see these piles couples with bugs that kind of look like ants with wings, you know that they are termites. The average pest control treatment will cost $120 to $150 per year, if you are being proactive and trying to prevent termites from getting into you walls. But if they are already there, it costs between $500 to $600. However, if the problem has been let go for years, it could mean that you need to spend thousands of dollars replacing holy wooden beams.

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Some neighborhoods have very strict HOA regulations. Photo Credit: Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock

22. Expensive HOA Fees

Some neighborhoods have a Home Owner’s Association, or “HOA”. It is most common in a community of condo units, new housing developments, and luxury gated communities. The HOA is a committee who is responsible for taking care of the shared amenities that the entire community uses. For example, some communities have a shared swimming pool, parking garage, gym, and community center that everyone living in that neighborhood is allowed to use. These perks are not “free” though.

Watch out for extra expenses due to an HOA. Photo Credit: Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Shutterstock

On average, HOA fees cost between $200 to $300 per month. The committee is supposed to save money in case of an emergency. However, if there is a huge issue with any of the amenities that will require thousands of dollars in repairs, your HOA may ask you for extra payment that month to cover the cost. So you never really know how much you will need to shell out every month. Of course, you can avoid HOA fees all together if you buy a house that is not apart of one.

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21. Keeping Up With the HOA’s Demands

Aside from maintaining the community’s shared amenities, the HOA also makes the rules. This is often a very long list about how you must maintain your lawn, what kinds of plants you are allowed to have, what color your house can be, what kinds of dogs you are allowed to own, and so on. These rules might force you to hire a landscaping company to mow your lawn, or someone to fix a repair that the previous owner did not do.

Some neighborhoods have strict rules about appearances. Photo Credit: Kristi Blokhin/Shutterstock

Every month, the HOA meets to discuss new rules in the community. They keep “minutes” of the information they discussed, and these are distributed to the residents of the community. In these “minutes”, there are often new rules that you must follow. All too often, the previous owner of the house ignored those new “minutes”, because they knew they were going to sell the house soon, anyway. You may find yourself with a huge to-do list as soon as you but the home. Depending on the extent of the home’s neglect, it could cost hundreds or thousands of dollars to paint, repair, and keep up with the Joneses.

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Abandoned houses are a huge red flag. Photo Credit: Urban.Explorer/Shutterstock

20. Abandoned Houses

When you are touring a neighborhood, keep an eye out for any abandoned houses. These often raise the crime rate of an area, because there is often illegal activity or homeless squatters breaking into these homes. These abandoned properties obviously look bad, and they can also bring down the property value of your house.

Photo Credit: Susanne Leitgeb/Shutterstock

If you have children, they may also feel tempted to explore this abandoned house. It can seem very “spooky”, and a cool place to explore. However, if they go inside, they may get hurt, or even run into a dangerous situation.

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Even if a house is beautiful, railroad tracks and bring down its value. Photo Credit: Julija Vidjajeva/Shutterstock

19. Railroad Tracks

If you are considering buying a house near a railroad track, it may not seem so bad, unless you happen to be there when the train is going by. Depending on whether it is a passenger or freight line, you may not see it in the daytime. Passenger lines usually stop at some point in the night, while freight cars will go by in the middle of the night.

It can be a nuisance to live near a train. Photo Credit: Thanos Goumenos/Shutterstock

When a train goes by, they always have to blast their horn at every intersection. The train causes vibrations that may shake the entire house. This can lead to hearing problems, and obviously, a lack of sleep. On top of that, having a house too close to the tracks will bring down its property value. And even if you are willing to deal with the noise, it will be incredibly hard to re-sell later.

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Asbestos needs to be removed by professionals. Photo Credit: Logtnest/Shutterstock

18. Asbestos

If your home was built before the 1970’s, you will need to watch out for asbestos. This was a material that was lauded as being one of the safest things you could build your house with. The only issue was that they later discovered that when asbestos is broken apart, tiny microscopic fibers fly into the air. If you breathe these fibers in, they will sit in your lungs forever, and there is no way to remove them. Asbestos has been linked to lung cancer and other health issues.

Asbestos has dangerous fibers when it is broken apart. Photo Credit: andre quinou/Shutterstock

Once people realized how awful it really is, no one is allowed to use asbestos to build a house ever again. The only problem, of course, is that there are still so many older homes that have asbestos roofs and siding. If you are buying an older home, you will need to hire a professional team to remove it. According to Home Guide, asbestos removal will set you back $20 to $65 per square foot. The cost of a full job will be between $1,212 – $2,821.

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A lot of older homes become crooked from uneven framing. Photo Credit: Peter Turner Photography/Shutterstock

17. Uneven Framing and Damaged Walls

If your house has suffered from a termite infestation, or if the wood buckled from water damage, this can cause framing to become uneven. How do you know that there is uneven framing? Well, the house looks a bit crooked.

This house is extremely crooked. Photo Credit: Marc Bruxelle/Shutterstock

You will need to hire a professional to get this job done. According to Home Advisor, this costs from $335 and $1,053 to fix a houses’ framing. Of course, if this is coupled with other issues, you may need to pay more for the entire job.

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Always keep an eye out for potential water damage in your home. Photo Credit: James R Poston/Shutterstock

16. Water Damage

When a roof gets old or gutters are neglected from getting cleaned, this can lead to water leaking through the ceilings and causing water damage. Every time you go to tour a house, always look up at the ceiling and walls for brown stains or paint bubbles along the walls.

A bad roof could lead to leaking ceilings during heavy rainfall. Photo Credit: Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock

In some cases, water damage may have been isolated to just one area, like a burst pipe in a bathroom. This may not be such a big deal, if everything was repaired. Other times, it could spread throughout the entire house. This leads to termites, wood rot, mold, and more. Always check if that area has experienced flooding in the past two years. Repairs can be small, or go up to $10,000 if the roof needs to be replaced.

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Repairing a roof can be an expensive undertaking. Photo Credit: mikeledray/Shutterstock

15. The Roof

The roof is the single most important part of your house. Without it, nothing could be kept dry from the rain. Water would destroy the walls, and everything else inside the time. Houses need to get a new roof every 20 to 30 years. It is possible to to small repairs on shingles that may have come off during a particularly bad storm. However, it the roof has not been replaced in years, it is a job that needs to be done. Costs can vary drastically, but a new roof can cost up to $20,000, depending on the square footage of your roof and the type of shingles you are using.

You may need to buy new shingles. Photo Credit: Rob Bayer/Shutterstock

When you are looking for houses, always stand outside of the home and look up at the roof. If you need to, stand across the street to get a better view of what is happening with the roof from all sides. You should be able to see if there are missing shingles, sagging, and other signs that it needs a new roof right away.

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A bad foundation can cause a house to buckle. Photo Credit: Jim Reed/Shutterstock

14. Foundation Issues

The foundation is another crucial part of a home. Without a sturdy foundation, your house can begin to sag into the ground. This can lead to uneven floors, and may even sink into the ground completely at some point. In some states where houses have crawl spaces instead of basements, you can feel an uneven foundation as soon as you step inside.

Foundation repairs can be expensive. Photo Credit: Kuchina/Shutterstock

If you live in an area where basements are common, you can spot foundation problems when you see a crack in the side of the house that is in the shape of a staircase. Just like having a bad roof, a bad foundation is going to be a seriously expensive problem to solve. According to Home Guide, this can cost between $4,000 to $15,000.

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Old duct work can be an expensive job to fix. Photo Credit: V.Anisimov/Shutterstock

13. Old Duct Work

Before the 1930’s, houses were heated with wood and coal from the basement. Ducts lead from the basement up to the main house, and there was no fan to help lead the heat up through the house. After years, these older ducts can become leaky, and will need to be reinsulated. This can cost between $300 and $600 to insulate an older system.

Your house may need to have new ducts installed. Photo Credit: charles arista salim/Shutterstock

One of the many downsides to old duct work is that it usually cannot be compatible with a central air conditioning unit. If you live in an older home, you may be forced to use box air conditioners. Installing a modern HVAC system would require removing all of the old ducts and replacing it with new ones. This is a huge job, and usually costs an average of $12,000.

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You may need to remove dead trees from your new property. Photo Credit: ND700/Shutterstock

12. Tree Removal

Houses that are located in rural areas most likely have a lot of trees on the property. Always pay attention to the trees when you are in the yard, and look out for any that are dead. These dead trees are a safety hazard, and will have to be removed at some point. The average cost of removing one tree is $60 to $350, depending on the size. Tree removal services also charge extra for stump removal and grinding. If you have a wood burning stove, be sure to mention this, so that you can keep the wood.

Grinding up the stump is usually an extra cost on top of cutting. Photo Credit: ND700/Shutterstock

You may also want to remove trees that could potentially fall on your house if they were ever hit by lightning. Even worse- it may hit your neighbor’s house, and you will end up in a lawsuit. Some trees also get tangled up in electrical wires, and you will have to contact the electrical company to cut the branches.

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Always check your local crime rate before moving somewhere. Photo Credit: Brian A Jackson/Shutterstock

11. Local Crime Rates

Before you even visit a house in person, you should always check the local crime rates on Neighborhood Scout. Also check the local news to see if there has been any sort of crime spree happening recently, that may not have reached the online databases yet. Obviously, you want to stay away from homes with a high crime rate. In really bad areas, when homes are left vacant or put up for sale, some people may break in to steal the copper pipes.

Burglars who see rich people moving into a neighborhood may target them. Photo Credit: Lucky Business/Shutterstock

To make matters worse, buying a house in a high-crime area means that you are making yourself a target for thieves. If you try to give your house a beautiful makeover, this only puts a spotlight on you that says “we have money!” and makes you more likely to be a victim. Always make sure your “fixer upper” is in a good neighborhood.

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Lead paint is dangerous, and will need to be removed. Photo Credit: D_Townsend /Shutterstock

10. Lead Paint

Before 1979, most homes were painted with lead-based paint. Unfortunately, this is incredibly toxic, especially for kids. Lead poisoning can lead to serious health issues. If you are not sure if that house has lead paint or not, you can buy a lead testing kit.

You may need to test peeling paint for lead. Photo Credit: Nadia Chi/Shutterstock

However, if you are thinking of sanding the lead paint off the walls and window sills, be extremely careful. This should be done by a professional who is wearing full body protection. Many people choose to paint over the lead paint so that it is sealed, but the lead will always be underneath.

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You may need to call in the HVAC repair man to save the day. Photo Credit: I AM NIKOM/Shutterstock

9. HVAC

In this list, we have already mentioned HVAC a couple times, for good reason. It is essential for keeping your house warm in the winter, and cool in the summer. It stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. If you have lived in a newer house your entire life, you might assume that every house should have it.

You may need to get a new HVAC system installed in your house. Photo Credit: urbans/Shutterstock

Believe it or not, older homes won’t have it at all. It would cost between $4,000 to $12,000 to install a new one. Even if the house has an HVAC system, there is still a lot that can go wrong. Small problems can cost just $50, but larger repairs cost over $1,000. If you want to know more, check out this extensive list of potential issues on HVAC.com.

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Some older homes may have strange sized windows. Photo Credit: Nellin/Shutterstock

8. Older Windows

For years, houses were made with single-pane windows. When you are first touring a house, you may not think anything of it. Or, maybe you think you could live with the vintage windows. However, these are pretty terrible. They leak a draft very easily in the winter, and also let in a lot of heat in the summer. It can dramatically increase your energy bills. On top of that, single-pane glass is very easy to break, which would make you more of a target for criminals.

Older windows are often falling apart. Photo Credit: Yuriy Bartenev/Shutterstock

It would be in your best interest to replace those windows with brand new double-pane glass. According to Angie’s List, the average cost of labor and materials for just one new windows is $400 to $600. This could easily cost you several thousand dollars, depending on the number of windows that need to be replaced.

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Rodents and other critters can eat away at electrical wires. Photo Credit: kasarp studio/Shutterstock

7. Electrical Problems

Before the 1950’s, American houses were wired with “knob and tube” electricity. Over the years, electricians have come up with methods that are far safer to use, and no one uses knob and tube anymore. If you discover that your house has this older wiring, it will need to be completely replaced. In a 1,500 square foot house, this would cost $8,000.

Unfortunately, not everyone is great with electrical repairs. Photo Credit: beersonic/Shutterstock

The potential problems don’t stop there. There is a huge list of potential problems that may happen, ranging from a few hundred dollars up to $6,000. Since hiring an electrician is so expensive, some people choose to take on the task of doing a DIY job. Non-professionals are often sloppy, and don’t understand how to organize the wires neatly so that the next electrician knows how to fix the problem properly. This can cause a huge headache for the next owner, and it may cost a lot to get things done.

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At some point, you will probably need to hire a plumber. Photo Credit: Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock

6. Plumbing

Unfortunately, when it comes to plumbing, it is not “if”, but rather, “when” is the problem going to begin? Hiring a plumber is very common, and very expensive. The cost will change depending on the extent of an issue. According to Home Advisor, expect to pay an average of $300 every time you need to call a plumber for a small fix.

The cost of a plumber will vary drastically. Photo Credit: Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

Considering how common plumbing issues are, it may be wise to set aside some money for a “home repair fund”. This way, if anything goes wrong, you will feel totally prepared to pay for it, instead of getting stressed out or being forced to put it on a credit card.

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You should check if your appliances work before buying a house. Photo Credit: Maxx-Studio/Shutterstock

5. Check The Appliances

If there are appliances in the home at the time of the tour, it means that they are included in the purchase price. Sometimes, the owners will remove an appliance so that they can take it with them to the next house. But if the appliances are left behind, do not assume that they still work. Always test them during the tour, so that you know what actually works.

It may be necessary for you to buy new appliances for your home. Photo Credit: New Africa/Shutterstock

If you forget to check, you may end up needed to pay for new appliances. Depending on the brand, you will have to pay hundreds of dollars, over over $1,000 per piece. Even if they work at first, be prepared for the possibility that you may need to replace them soon after moving in.

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Always pay attention to the layout of a home before you commit to buying it. Photo Credit: Nikonaft/Shutterstock

4. Pay Attention to the Layout

If a house is staged or filled with the previous owner’s furniture, you may not be able to notice the true layout of the house compared to when it is empty. A lot of people get excited by the idea of living a house when they see what it looks like fully decorated, but once they try to fit their own furniture into the space, it just doesn’t work.

Think about the placement of rooms, and how easy it would be to live in that space. Photo Credit: ma3d/Shutterstock

Rooms may not look the same size anymore, or the layout may seem awkward. So always pay attention to the layout, and try to imagine your own belongings in that space. Ask yourself if this would work with your daily living, or if it would be strange and awkward.

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Do the local pizza places deliver to the home? Photo Credit: Rawpixel.com /Shutterstock

3. Are Deliveries Available?

In your current home, you may enjoy food delivery services like Amazon Fresh, Postmates, and Grub Hub. It’s easy to assume that they are available everywhere in the United States, but that is not actually true. If your house is located in a rural area, you may even be out of range for the closest pizza joint!

Does that area have Amazon Fresh delivery available? Photo Credit: About Amazon

If these delivery services mean a lot to you, always check the address in the apps to see if they will deliver to those locations. An alternative to these services may be Walmart Grocery Pickup, so at least you can have time cut out of your schedule, and you can just pick up your food when it is ready. It may not be delivery, but it is the next best thing.

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How loud is the surrounding area near the house? Photo Credit: Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock

2. Pay Attention to the Noise

Even if a house is beautiful, it may be in an area that is very loud. Is there a lot of construction going on around you? Is there a sports stadium nearby? Or maybe it is as simple as being too close to a busy street.

It would be terrible to not be able to sleep in your new house. Photo Credit: Antonio Guillem/Shutterstock

Sometimes, an amazing location will make it worth the trouble. But usually, you can find a home in the same price range without the issues of having all of that noise. Consider driving past the house during rush hour, so that you can figure out how loud it gets.

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If you live on a hill, it could be problematic. Photo Credit: Irina Fischer/Shutterstock

1. Check For The Direction of Surrounding Slopes

If you have a house on a hill or a mountain, pay attention to the direction of where the slopes are headed. If there is a slope leading down towards the house, it could mean that rain water will pour down to your house, and create water to creep into the basement.

Living on a mountain means that you are in dangers of rockslides. Photo Credit: Kitiya Khamyaem /Shutterstock

Even if the slopes are going in the right direction, the area may still be in danger of rock slides. You may have to pay for an expensive home owner’s insurance plan to prepare for the possibility. Try to check the likelihood of rockslides with the local municipal building so that you understand the risks involved.

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