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6 RED FLAGS TO LOOK OUT FOR WHEN HOUSE HUNTING

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When house hunting, looking out for these red flags is very important because it saves you money. Also, this will help you know whether you should buy that particular house or look for a better one that has less of these red flags or no red flags at all. Below are some of the red flags you should be keen about:

1. Availability of many vacant houses/ homes for sale in the area.

If there are a big percentage of homes for sale in a particular neighborhood, it may indicate that people are leaving instead of staying…which begs for the question: Why? If you encounter this situation, do some digging. Has crime spiked in the area before? Is there some kind of development going in that will change the feel of the neighborhood? Ask around before you make an offer on the home.

2. Presence of cracked walls and floor.

cracked wall of a new house


It is normal for a house to have wear and tear if it’s not new. But if you notice that it has cracks which are more than half an inch, this is a red flag meaning it has a weak foundation and structural damages. Be on the lookout for cracks which seem to have new repair works on them. Patches are an indication that the house is not in good condition and is a safety hazard.

3. Houses with fresh paint in weird places.

Every home buyer would want to move in to a house which is freshly painted especially if the house is old. Have you ever entered a house and noticed that it is painted in unusual areas? Or maybe, you notice one side of the house is painted while the other isn’t? You’d probably want to know what could be the reason for the property owner to paint those weird places. This is one of the red flags you should never assume when house hunting.

4.The windows or curtains are all closed

Most of real estate photos will show the curtains open to take advantage of the natural light. If the listing you’re looking at has photos with the curtains closed, the house probably does not have an amazing view and may look out on something unattractive.

5. The listing contains less photos

Are there only a few photos of the home included in the listing? Are certain rooms or areas of the home left? Pay attention to this important real estate red flag. If the listing doesn’t include high quality photos, buyers should question why that is the case. It is recommended that you get your realtor to find older photos of the home from previous listings before touring the house. If certain rooms were left out of the listing, make sure to ask the sellers to explain to you why that happened.

6. Homes located along highways or busy roads.

If the home is located along the highway, Chances are, the listing photos will try to hide this by avoiding angles where house hunters can see the road. Ensure you search for the exact location of the house on Google Map prior visiting day of the home. Typically, homes that are located on or near busy roads and highways have a hectic time selling. Despite the fact that residents who live in such homes have to deal with noise pollution, they also encounter health problems brought about by air pollution.

7. Saggy ceiling and water stains.

saggy ceiling


Another major red flag you should not ignore is water stains on the roof. If you see a roof which looks yellowish, that could mean a plumbing problem which has probably affected other areas of the house which are not visible. Find out where the leak is coming from and if the landlord will fix it before you sign the agreement. Moreover, if you come across a roof that looks like it’s sagging, this could mean that the roof needs to be changed, there could be insects eating it away or water that has caused that.


Finally, as a Home-buyer in Kenya, paying attention to little things when house hunting is very important because it helps you know the defects a certain house/home has before deciding whether or not to move in. Looking for property (land, house or plot) to buy?

We believe in a win-win situation where Parties involved in property transaction (our sellers, Baoriat Agencies and buyers) win by getting the best deal ever. For this reason, over the last three years we have had customers who seek for our services repeatedly. We will actively work with you to help you find criteria that works best for you. All you have to do is, call 0721-554-937 or visit Juma Hajee Building room 16 in Eldoret town, Uasin Gishu County.

Find Property in Uasin Gishu County


Baoriat Agencies

Call: +254 721-554-937

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