TRACEY RICH

If you are looking for one EASY BIG RED FLAGtake notice of any unusual SMELLS when you tour a home Smells are something you cant see in photos Smells are often indicative of something underlying that you cant see First off if they have a very strong room deodorizer plug in for example there could be an odor that they are trying to mask A very strong musty odor not a typical basement damp smell could mean mold or mildew are growing somewhere possibly behind a wall which could indicate either water intrusion or a possible previous leak that wasnt discovered in a timely manner Pet smells are another one If you smell an ammonia smell it could be indicative of something way more dangerous than just a cat or a dog You should test the HVAC for harmful chemical contaminants that can be traced in the heatingcooling system if tested Speaking of animal smells cleaning andor putting Kilz on baseboards or sub flooring may not necessarily knock out those odors Certain pet accidents can actually seep into baseboards or sub flooring and eventually re emerge The same goes for smoke If you smell a smoky odor either someone has smoked inside the home which is very difficult but not impossible to eliminate or it could be evidence of a recent wood burning fireplace use Some people adore this smell and makes them feel at home Wood burning fireplaces most people either love or hate That being said you might see a wood burning fireplace in a photo but the seller may have never used it which you wouldnt know until you were in the physical space I hope this is helpful