House Hunting - Flaws That Might Not Be Worth The Risk

If you have a limited budget when it comes to house hunting, you may have to make concessions with your deal-breaker list. Some things shouldn't be discredited though. If you are house hunting and you know that a fixer-upper is probably more in-line with your budget, it is important to know what you can and cannot take on.

Here are four home issues that might not be worth the effort when looking into homes for sale:

1. Increased Risk of Property Damage

Accidents happen, but some homes may be in locations that put them in direct threat for possible damage. Even with insurance, homes in a flood zone, on an earthquake fault, or are built on a hillside may not be worth it. Look at location maps and prior assessments of a home so that you know what you are getting into.

2. Lingering Odor and Smells

If a home smells like years of cigarettes or animals, this might not come out even with a deep clean. If a home has been poorly cared for, smoke and animal smells may have seeped into walls and floorboards and will not come out. Sometimes a fresh coat of paint and new carpeting just isn't enough when it comes to excessive smells. Weigh in on how much property maintenance you might be willing to do if eradicating odor is a larger job than just superficial updates.

3. Excessive Remodeling

Sometimes a house might be in the right location, but have some odd factors that would take extensive work on your part to fix. If a home has been cut up or remodeled to accommodate specific situations such as an in-law, it might not be worth it to have to renovate this once you move in. If the structure of a home isn't what you are looking for on a limited budget, it is probably worth it to keep looking at other homes for sale.

4. Issues with the Neighborhood

If a neighborhood is sold as 'up and coming' or may be borderline-safe, it might not be worth putting your family in this situation. Drive by at night and see if there seems to be unsafe activity is happening. Go through city data online and see if you think you can handle living in an urban environment that might not be the best to raise a family in.

Knowing what your limitations are before you fall in love with a place is important. There are some factors that might be too much of a hurdle for you. Understanding limitations that probably cannot be remedied efficiently need to be weighed carefully before you purchase your new real estate.