Imagine this. A house was staged to perfection — flowers in the beds, the aroma of fresh bread in the air, and the furniture arranged to show off how spacious the rooms were. It presented so well that buyers missed the smell of mildew in the basement and the cracks in the wall. By the time their home inspector informed them that these are signs of significant problems, the buyers had fallen in love with the home and decided to buy it anyway. It’s not an unheard of scenario.

Home inspections give buyers a professional, objective opinion about the condition of a house. But, by the time the inspection is done, many buyers have already emotionally connected to the property — and overlooked its flaws. In a competitive market, where there might be multiple buyers bidding on every house, it can be difficult to let go no matter what the inspection discloses.

That’s why buyers need to keep their eyes wide open from the first time they step into any house they’re considering.

“There are always issues that come up when buyers walk through a house,’’ said Erin Freeman, a real estate agent with Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty in Hingham. “It’s common to encounter things that should give buyers pause, to make them dig in to see what’s behind them.’’

A February 2026 survey by Zillow found that 75 percent of those who successfully purchased a home in the past two years have at least one regret. The top regret: About one-third of buyers said the home needs more work or maintenance than they expected.

So, what are these red flags that should cause buyers to think twice about whether they even want to make an offer?

Water issues

These include actual signs of water intrusion as well as ceilings that have been recently repainted. “Water is the scariest thing to me,’’ said Freeman. “It could be damage from an air handler, a leaky roof, or bad plumbing.’’ And, once there’s water damage, there’s also the possibility of mold or structural damage.

Alex Steinberg, owner and president of JBS Home Inspections in Watertown, said that buyers should be wary of houses in low-lying areas, especially if you see a sump pump in the basement. “Water management is critical,’’ he said. “If a house looks wet, feels wet, or seems like the water isn’t draining off properly, that’s something that could require a lot of work right off the bat.’’

Cracks

Settlement cracks are common, especially in older homes. But when they are wide — greater than 1/8th to a quarter inch — horizontal, or are around windows or doors, this can be a sign of a serious issue. “Foundation cracks don’t necessarily mean that you should run away from the house,’’ said Steinberg. “But they can be a sign of a big structural issue that can be really expensive to repair.’’

Smells

If you smell mold, mildew, or feces, that could be a huge red flag. Steinberg said that cigarette smells can also be an issue because they leach into the walls and can be difficult to remove.

“If people use air fresheners or light candles before a showing, it sets a lovely mood, but it always makes me wonder what they’re covering up,’’ said Freeman.

Major structural issues

If it’s obvious the roof is old and or that the heating system is in poor repair, this should put you on notice that you may have to invest a big chunk of money right off the bat for repair or replacement of major systems in the house. That increases your purchase price right from the start.

Pests

“Termites are hard to pick up [on] unless you know what you’re looking for, but you can definitely see mice or mice feces, and that would be a red flag depending on where the house is,’’ said Steinberg. Houses in the suburbs are more prone to mice, so they’re less of an issue, he said. But if your home is in downtown Boston, mice should give you pause.

So, what happens if you encounter one of these red flags when you first tour a house? At what point should you walk away?

“It’s up to the buyer and their comfort level,’’ said real estate attorney Nikolaos (“Nik’’) Ligris, co-managing partner of Ligris & Associates in Newton Centre. Two factors matter: How much of “a stomach’’ a buyer has for undertaking risk and the possible severity of the issue. Issues that would impact the buyer’s ability to get a mortgage or insurance, such as knob and tube wiring that is still found in many older homes in New England, would be severe enough for a buyer to walk away from the deal, he said.

Of course, a buyer’s decision also depends on the status of the local market and how badly they want that home. It all depends on the facts and circumstances of each deal.

Anything is fixable, Steinberg said. It just boils down to how much risk you are willing to undertake and whether you want a turnkey home you can move right into or have an appetite for repairs or renovations.