Realtor.com has come up with a list of five things home sellers try to hide from sellers. Presumably, this is done to enhance a house’s value and stick the buyer with problems once a sale has closed.

The five things sellers hide are:

1. Water damage
2. A contaminated backyard
3. Problem neighbors
4 Weird temperature changes
5. A shaky foundation

The troubles usually occur in older homes, which may be an argument to buy a brand new one. Less charming perhaps, but fewer potential repairs.

The moves homeowners will take to hide damage are unethical and border on criminally misleading.

Frank Baldassarre, owner of Ace Home Inspections on Staten Island, N.Y., points out:

“Many sellers try to conceal water intrusion in the basement, for example, with a pile of cardboard boxes or suitcases,” he says. You could always ask the homeowner to move the furniture a few inches and shine a pocket flashlight around. If the home has obvious red flags (an odd odor or visible wall cracks), it’s not unreasonable to request removing a large picture frame to take a peek at what’s behind it.

“Always ask the homeowner when they last painted, If it was a year ago, they’re probably not trying to hide water stains.”

Carrie Benuska, a real estate agent at John Aaroe Group in Pasadena, Calif., commented:

Homeowners have an obligation to disclose what are called “neighborhood nuisances,” but if they don’t, buyers have to rely on their word. I know people who have asked their neighbors to keep noisy dogs inside during showings or only open their homes during strategic times of the day.

She also points out:

All homeowners sign a disclosure document about their property so buyers know what they’re getting into; however, it can be very tempting for some to tell white lies or conveniently forget facts. In fact, a very large number of real estate lawsuits stem from owners misrepresenting their property.

In short, get a good home inspector and engineer, assuming they won’t lie as well.

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