4 Red Flags To Avoid When Buying Home Insurance

Buying a house can be a major investment. You want to buy a house that suits your budget, is safe, secure, comfortable, and fits your lifestyle. Owning a house means you will pay for mortgage and property taxes. Yet, you can make owning real estate less costly with homeowners insurance.

Even if you want a cost-effective home, you might not do some research before buying one - to avoid mistakes. As a result, you could end up paying more than the amount indicated in your policy. Check out these red flags when buying home insurance.

Overt Staging 
Most homeowners or real estate agents will clean and stage a house during an open house or showing. The idea is to showcase the potential of the house with the furniture and homey accents. But if there is too much staging, watch out. A strong aroma in the house, for example, could be masking other scents like mildew or mold.

When buying a house, don't be deceived by the staging. Look past the attractive furniture and the strong aroma and look at the bigger picture of the house.​

Mold 
Mold is one of the signs of a poorly maintained home. Of course, a homeowner cares for the house. But molds could mean there is high humidity in the house, resulting in future problems. Mold removal is not only expensive but also time-consuming. Besides, removing molds is not usually covered by your homeowner insurance.

Molds could develop in high humidity rooms such as in the bathroom or kitchen. Look for signs of it, such as in cabinets, under the sink, or around water pipes and drains. Look for small black or gray spots, as these are the first signs of molds.

Foundation Issues
Foundation problems need your immediate action. As they could cost you if not repaired right away. These issues cannot be fixed if the damage has gone too far. These issues will not be paid for by your insurance company. Foundation concerns may result in a drastic increase in your homeowner insurance premium. 

While homes will have few cracks here and there, larger gaps should be a cause for concern. Have a structural engineer or inspector check the foundation to be sure it is secure and safe.

Water Damage
Water damage could result in flooding or plumbing problems. It's another problem that your insurance premium will not cover. This is a huge red flag you should avoid. Check for water damage by looking at walls and ceilings for water lines.

Another way to check for water damage is to look at any exposed pipes, such as in the basement, attic, or laundry room. Check for rust, water stains, leaks, or any other signs of weakness.

At Black and Associates Insurance, Inc., we aim to provide comprehensive insurance policies that make your life easier. We want to help you get the insurance that fits your needs. You can get more information about our products and services by calling our agency at (509) 464-0058. Get your free quote today by CLICKING HERE.