We are often surprised at how perfectly intelligent, reasonable house buyers are able to overlook screaming red flags when the pressure builds to sign on the dotted line. Seriously people. Before you ever pick up the pen, take a step back and look around. Is your gut quietly warning you about anything besides the greasy tacos you had for lunch? Have you fallen so hard for a particular property that you’re completely convinced the hideous odor wafting in from the hog farm across the field is not that big a deal?

A nearby hog farm is just one example of a big red flag screaming not to buy. Here are a few others.

1.The neighbor’s yard looks like a pawn shop threw up all over it. Be doubly suspicious if the real estate agent tries to distract your attention when you mention the mess, then hurries you inside and closes the curtains.

2.On the way up the front sidewalk, your agent feels compelled to begin warning you about strange noises, colors, or smells inside. Trust us, if its bad enough that they feel the need to soften the blow before you get there, it’s REALLY bad.

3.The listing sheet is full of negatives, along with suggested fixes and how much experts claim it will cost. Leading with negatives?! Unless you’re goal in life is to recreate Tom Hanks and Shelly Long’s traumatic cinematic experience from the movie The Money Pit, steer clear.

4.Water marks on the basement top out three feet above the floor. The slight flooding problem has been fixed? Riiiight. Be doubly suspicious if the house can only be shown under drought conditions.

5.During casual conversation, the next door neighbor is seized by an uncontrollable laughing fit when you express possible interest in buying the house. Maybe they have been playing with nitrous oxide on the sly. Or maybe they know something you don’t.

We’re having a little bit of fun here at the expense of home buyers but the point is dead serious. A house is probably the single largest purchase you’ll make in your life. Don’t be obtuse and overlook something that will make you hate it before the end of the first month.

The AIPIS Team

Flickr / Willie Lunchmeat