Learning what home is worth the investment and which to walk away from is not always an easy process for home buyers. It often involves buying a house and learning later that it was not a good choice.
To avoid being in this position, home buyers need to be prepared. That means that while walking through a house, be on the lookout for these five problem areas that bad remodels have.
The Main Structure and Appliances
The trick to selling a house that has been remodeled for cheap is to emphasize what works and to distract from the problems. Unfortunately, this is very easy to do with some paint and new floors. Home buyers often see the words “fully remodeled” and jump into action expecting a beautiful home.
When walking though remodeled homes try to ignore all of the new additions. While it is wonderful to see a fresh coat of paint, look at what it is covering up. The main areas to concentrate on is the structure or foundation of the house including the windows and the roof. Then check to see if the central air and furnace work, as well.
The Little Details in the Kitchen
Home buyers dream of having a fully renovated kitchen. The new cabinets, pristine sink, and top of the line appliances make it a great space to spend time in. However, there are many ways to make a kitchen appear to look good, without breaking the bank. Many do-it-yourself projects go awry and only look good for a short amount of time.
If the kitchen has been updated, look at the small details. Pay attention to the backsplash and check if everything is even. The countertops should rest against the wall. Look at the cabinets individually – are they all a matching set or where they thrown together last minute?
All small details that do not exactly match could indicate a job that was not completed well. Be wary. A poor construction job could mean cabinets will be falling apart in the new few months.
Appliances that are outdated are another indication that the renovation was not complete or done well. A full renovation will provide a brand new kitchen.
What Stays Hidden in the Bathroom
A bathroom is similar to the kitchen. It is very easy to make a bathroom appear to be finished well, while in reality, everything is a bit off. Uneven floors, poorly applied tiles, and old plumbing is just the tip of the iceberg with a cheap bathroom remodel.
Check that everything has been replaced. The main fixtures are important but so are the smaller parts that go along with them.
The parts of the bathroom that are not typically seen like the shut-off valves, pipes, and P-traps are usually ignored in a quick remodel. All of these items should be replaced to increase the longevity of the remodel.
Check Every Inch of the Floor
Redoing the floors in a house is a go-to for many homeowners that want to make the home appear new. A great job on new flooring can really help to elevate a room. However, many homes have shoddy installation. Even small problems with the floor will become an annoyance when walking over it on a daily basis.
There are so many types of flooring that can be installed. Many of them look fantastic if they are done correctly, but can look terrible if an amateur tries to install them. Uneven tiles, warped wood, and floors that buckle under the pressure of feet have not been installed correctly.
It may seem silly but walk around all of the rooms, many times. A buyer should slide their feet across the edges of the boards or tiles and look for any catches. Avoid any houses with uneven floors. It indicates that there are more projects in the house that the owner attempted but failed at completing correctly.
The Overall Feel
In general, a rushed job can be found in the small details. Open and close all of the doors in the house. Each door should swing freely and there should be an even amount of space when closed. Doors that hang ajar is a tell-tale sign of shoddy craftsmanship.
Look for little gaps in the finish of molding or window frames. Any loose parts in the house should have been fixed long before buyers walked through the home. Finally, take a good look at that paint job. From far away it may look great, but up close are there a lot of streaks and imperfections?
There are too many ways a homeowner can cut corners when remodeling a house. Buyers can often be blinded by the new parts of the home and completely ignore the signs that the remodel was completed poorly. Ignore the new house fever and really look at the details of the house to see if it is worth making an offer.
