House Flaws That Shouldn’t Be Deal Breakers

House hunting is a little bit like going on a whole bunch of first dates. In both situations, youre on the lookout for deal breakers, like a creepy attitude (bad neighborhood), nasty breath (moldy basement) and no personality (blah dcor). But just like the dating game, first impressions can be a deceiving, and not every clich house problem is dump-worthy.

Here are five flaws you may find during a house hunt that arent necessarily deal breakers:

Wall-to-Wall Carpet

You dont often hear people say that they love wall-to-wall carpet, but peoples tolerance for the look varies. If you really cant stand the shag but youve found a home thats perfect otherwise give it a chance! Beneath that carpet is probably a beautiful floor with endless possibilities. The cost to tear up and replace carpet with an inexpensive alternative (like vinyl) is generally $15-$20 per square yard, so this foible can be fixed without breaking the bank.

Popcorn Ceiling

This rough acoustic surface (also called cottage cheese ceiling) is basically the polar opposite of modern chic. But that doesnt mean your dreams of a sleek dcor scheme cant come true! Removing popcorn ceiling yourself is labor intensive, but very doable. Or, you can hire someone to do it for you it generally costs $1.30-$2.60 per square foot to remove. Note: If the house youre looking at was built before 1979, popcorn ceiling removal is more complicated (and expensive) due to the risk of asbestos.

An Old Roof

A house with a roof more than 10 years old tends to trigger alarm bells. After all, old roofs can quickly turn into leaking roofs. But remember: old doesnt mean broken, and the age of the roof should reduce the asking price of the house. Important: If you purchase an old-roofed house, it is important to budget for an eventual replacement, which can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000. Different roof surfaces have very different life expectancies, so do some research about your roof and plan accordingly.

A Slightly-Too-High Price Point

If youve found your dream home, but it costs about $5,000 more than you planned to pay, dont walk away immediately. Five grand is nothing to sneeze at, but when you compare it to the total value of your home, its less significant. Plus, there are two possible ways to earn back this amount of cash:

1. See if there are any homeowner tax incentives for which youll qualify.

2. Ask your real estate agent if theyd be willing to take a small cut in their commission given the higher price (its in their best interest to get a deal done, so they may be receptive to this).

No Central AC

Hear us out! If youre house hunting in the middle of July, the idea of a sans-AC existence can seem like purchasing a lot on the seventh circle of hell. But a few window units (or some well-placed fan action) can cool off a lot more effectively than you think. Plus, installing a central AC unit can be done for as little as $2,000, which isnt that bad if the lack of AC took a chunk out of the initial price.

When you are buying or selling property in todays Harrisburg PA real estate market, its important to have confidence in your real estate professional. Dons commitment as your Harrisburg PA REALTOR is to provide you with the specialized real estate service you deserve.

When you are an informed buyer or seller, youll make the best decisions for the most important purchase or sale in your lifetime. Thats why Dons goal is to keep you informed on trends in Harrisburg PA real estate. With property values continuing to rise, real estate is a sound investment for now and for the future.

As a local area expert with knowledge of Harrisburg PA area communities, Dons objective is to work diligently to assist you in meeting your real estate goals.

If you are considering buying or selling a home or would just like to have additional information about real estate in your area, please dont hesitate to call me at (717) 657-8700. complete my online form . or e-mail me at don@donroth.com .