- 7 hours ago
- #brightside
- #brightsideglobal
Buying a house is one of the most important decisions in life, but it can also be one of the most stressful and confusing ones. Real estate agents know this, and they use various tricks and techniques to persuade you to buy a house that may not be the best fit for you. In this video, we will reveal 10+ tricks real estate agents use to sell irrelevant houses, and how you can avoid falling for them. #brightside #brightsideglobal TIMESTAMPS: 0:01 Warning signs when buying a house 08:36 Buzzing noises in the house and what to do with them 17:20 Check if burglars have marked your house This video is made for entertainment purposes. We do not make any warranties about the completeness, safety and reliability. Any action you take upon the information in this video is strictly at your own risk, and we will not be liable for any damages or losses. It is the viewer's responsibility to use judgement, care and precaution if you plan to replicate.
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00:00Not all that shines is gold, and not all the real estate agency's offers are as good as they might
00:06seem.
00:07Hey, you want to know what real estate agents are hiding from us?
00:10Here are some of the tricks you should know before renting or even buying a new house.
00:16One of the nifty tricks up realtor's sleeves is wide-angle camera lenses.
00:22Thing is, such lenses can visually expand the space and make a teeny-tiny room look much spacier.
00:28If you just Google something like wide-angle lens for real estate photography, you'll see a bunch of offers online.
00:35So, the realtors don't miss out on a chance to make the property they need to sell look more spacious.
00:42We all like high-quality picks, and they sure look appealing.
00:45But in the case of real estate photos online, you should consider checking offers with lower-quality photos.
00:52You risk getting inspired by the fancy picks online at first, and then get disappointed when you see the property
00:59in real life.
01:00Yep, in 2023, even an apartment can catfish you.
01:04So, beware!
01:07There's more to the photos of apartments online.
01:10Sometimes, agents can Photoshop furniture in the photos.
01:13Like, the room is empty, but in the photos, you can see a nice couch, coffee table, and stuff.
01:19Sometimes, realtors do that to sort of visualize what you can potentially do with the apartment if you rent or
01:26buy it.
01:27So, if you stumble upon a fancy furnished apartment online, don't hesitate to ask a couple of extra questions to
01:35the realtor.
01:35Otherwise, the expectation versus reality difference might be way too harsh.
01:43Some things may seem clean, and sometimes the stains may be altogether invisible.
01:48For example, on darker fabrics.
01:51The realtor may try to convince you that this couch is brand new.
01:55But if you have doubts, there's a trick that can help you out.
01:59Use a black light detector.
02:01It can help spot stains, bed bugs, and many other unwanted things while you're checking the apartment.
02:07There are plenty of affordable options online, like this one.
02:12If there's much wood in the apartment, it's great, as it's a natural material.
02:17Plus, it looks fancy.
02:19However, any wood can have hidden problems.
02:22For instance, a high level of moisture, which may lead to a whole bunch of unpleasant consequences, like mold.
02:28To make sure there's nothing suspicious about the wood in the apartment, you may want to check the moisture level
02:35with a special tool like this wood moisture meter.
02:38It can help identify hidden problems and save potentially expensive repairs.
02:45Sometimes, realtors rely more on psychology than on nifty tricks.
02:50You see, there are plenty of things we pay attention to when we're in a new place.
02:54The sense of smell has a tight connection with our emotions in general.
02:59And our emotions have a strong link to spending.
03:02There was an experiment trying to figure out how scents influence customers' behavior.
03:08The researchers had three options during the experiment.
03:11No scent, a simple scent, and a complicated scent.
03:15For 18 days, they would watch the customers in a home decoration store.
03:19The study proved that the 100 customers who shopped in the store with a simple orange scent spent about 20
03:27% more than usual.
03:28You see what I'm driving at?
03:30This scent trick can also be used for real estate.
03:33The apartment you're visiting might be somewhat shabby and not as classy as you would like it to be.
03:38But if the scent in the apartment is pleasant, you are likely to subconsciously perceive this apartment as a nice
03:45place.
03:46So, real estate agents are perfectly aware of that.
03:49Sometimes, they use diffusers and other things to cozy up the place with a pleasant smell and make it appear
03:56more appealing.
03:57But be careful!
03:58A too-strong and artificial scent may be there to cover up something unpleasant, like sewage odors.
04:05Eww.
04:06Now, let's say the diffuser scent in the apartment is so strong it makes you suspicious.
04:11In this case, you may want to check the place a little bit closer to make sure the realtor just
04:16went overboard when using the scent and there's nothing nasty to hide or cover up.
04:21It might be hard to check everything with the naked eye.
04:24But, luckily, many devices on the market will do all the dirty work for you.
04:30A mold detector may come in handy.
04:32Plus, these devices have a wide range of other applications.
04:36For instance, this little guy can detect and display the humidity of the environment to help users understand the situation.
04:43It also provides real-time monitoring and real-time display of carbon dioxide concentration per cubic meter.
04:51Perfect!
04:53Sometimes, you're not alone when you're visiting an apartment your real estate agent offers.
04:58And what if I tell you that the people who came to take a look at the very same apartment
05:04may be fake?
05:05I mean, the people are real, for sure, but they're not going to buy this place.
05:10Apparently, there may be fake viewers.
05:13These are the people that are meant to create an illusion of competition or scarcity.
05:18The real purpose of why they're here is to evoke the immediate interest.
05:22This way, the potential real buyer has to act faster in order not to lose the opportunity.
05:28So, they won't bargain for a lower price and will be sort of pushed to sign the documents as fast
05:34as possible.
05:36An average European home can survive for up to 400 years as it's made of bricks.
05:41In the United States, on the contrary, many houses are wood-framed,
05:46which means they won't last that long and they will need constant repairs.
05:50Wood-framed houses are a common thing in the U.S. due to the abundance of forests.
05:55But there's a downside to it.
05:57Wood is super vulnerable when it comes to infestation.
06:00Bugs.
06:01And while some realtors are honest about potential problems, including this one,
06:06others prefer to conceal this information.
06:09But there are a couple of true signs the house has been infested.
06:13First off, you see these little small pinprick holes in the walls?
06:17That's a red flag.
06:19The same goes for peeling paint and super squeaky doors.
06:22Yikes!
06:24Some houses may have a bad reputation.
06:27I'm talking about stigmatized property.
06:30Such houses are associated with negative events.
06:33These may be criminal events or even rumors of haunting.
06:37Even though these events may only be rumors, it still keeps renters and buyers away.
06:43Thing is, state laws vary concerning whether the seller must disclose a stigma or not.
06:49Realtors may choose not to disclose this information, too.
06:52So, beware if a house you're planning to buy is way too cheap.
06:56Something you don't know about might have happened there.
07:01Details are essential, especially if you're planning to buy something as pricey as a house.
07:06Unfortunately, some real estate agents consciously turn a blind eye to details that may turn out to be essential.
07:14For instance, they may never mention some occasional crack in the walls.
07:19While some of them may be insignificant, and they appear because of thermal and moisture issues,
07:24other cracks, also known as subsidence cracks, can be really serious.
07:29This is how you can tell if a crack is a subsidence.
07:33They appear at a 45-degree angle, they're jagged, and they're typically wider at the top.
07:39All these red flags are a true sign that the building is going downwards.
07:45Talking about new structures, they're not perfect either.
07:48It used to take more time to build a house, but the building pace has changed significantly.
07:53It definitely influenced the quality of the newer houses.
07:57Even if you're choosing a brand-new house, you still have to be in detective mode
08:02to make sure the house you want to buy isn't going to fall apart in a couple of years.
08:07So, next time you go to a viewing, make sure the brickwork isn't poor,
08:11the carpentry isn't wonky, and the staircases are secured properly.
08:16Also, don't fall for fancy design.
08:19A good designer can create a miraculous house with the cheapest materials,
08:23but such a design won't last long.
08:26It's safer to choose a simpler design with good quality
08:30and add your own artistic touch when you move in.
08:35Looking for something disgusting?
08:37Well, have you come to the right place?
08:39Let me explain.
08:42Oh, it's spring cleaning time!
08:44You walk around the house, humming a merry tune.
08:47When you hear a faint buzzing noise,
08:49you stop and strain your ears,
08:51and here it goes again, seemingly from behind the wall in the kitchen.
08:54You come closer and notice a brown spot on the wall that wasn't there just yesterday.
08:59You touch the spot, and oh, the horror!
09:02The drywall sinks inside beneath your fingers,
09:05and an entire cloud of wasps fly out of the hole, buzzing indignantly.
09:10You run for your life,
09:12and the wasps chase you outside for disturbing their nest.
09:15When you're far enough, the buzzing cloud returns into the house.
09:18It seems it's their home now, not yours.
09:21It might sound like some movie, but in fact, wasps do build their nests in houses,
09:26especially wooden ones.
09:28They prefer dark, enclosed spaces,
09:30so they can make a home in a tree hollow, a compost box, a shed, or your very own attic.
09:38Probably the worst thing is that you're likely not to notice a wasp infestation inside your house
09:43until it's too late.
09:45In spring, wasp queens migrate to find a new home and lay their eggs.
09:50If one of them likes your house, it will crawl inside some cozy, dark nook and hide there.
09:56Within a week or so, the first baby wasps will be born,
09:59and if the space is too confined,
10:02they'll start gnawing on the wooden parts of it to make room for their growing colony.
10:07It might take a few years before you notice the symptoms of an infestation, though.
10:12Wasps are believed to return to the same place every year
10:15because they leave behind their pheromones,
10:17and the colony will be growing with every passing year, too.
10:22Wasps will be munching through wooden boards and even plaster to make themselves comfortable,
10:27and you might hear their rustling and buzzing while they're at work.
10:31If you do hear strange sounds from behind your walls,
10:35don't wait long and call pest control.
10:37It means the colony is already big enough to cause you trouble.
10:40In the worst-case scenario,
10:42the innards of your house might be chock-full of wasps by then.
10:46The last and most obvious symptom of an infestation, though,
10:50is when you see brown spots or streaks on your drywall.
10:53That means the wasps are already a hair's breadth away from you
10:57and are about to break inside your living space.
11:00They can easily chew through drywall,
11:02and you might end up meeting the unexpected guests at night or while having dinner.
11:08Wasps are probably the worst pests to be infested with.
11:12Not only do they undermine your abode,
11:14but they're also very protective of their territory.
11:17If they break outside of their space between the walls and into your house proper,
11:21they'll immediately attack you as an intruder.
11:24How rude!
11:25And wasp stings aren't to be trifled with,
11:28especially if you have an allergy.
11:30There are numerous species of wasps that can dwell inside people's homes.
11:35But perhaps the most vicious ones are yellow jackets.
11:38They have a distinct bright yellow and black striped body,
11:42are bigger than other wasps,
11:43and their sting is much more unpleasant.
11:46Add to that their natural aggressiveness,
11:48and you get a flying insect that you don't want to meet at all.
11:52Still, if you notice any of the symptoms of wasp infestation,
11:57make sure you don't take any action on your own and call the professionals.
12:01Working with strong chemicals like pesticides is unsafe,
12:04and in addition, you can do yourself more harm than good if you don't know exactly what you're doing.
12:10It takes skill and knowledge to get rid of all the pests in your house.
12:14And if you leave just a couple of wasps, especially the queen,
12:18all your efforts might be in vain.
12:20So, leave it to the experts.
12:24A more inconspicuous, but no less dangerous bug that you don't want to have at home either
12:29is a wood borer.
12:31There are dozens of different species of those too,
12:33and some are no more than a nuisance,
12:36while others can be pretty destructive.
12:38Wood borers get their name for, well, boring wood,
12:42as in eating holes in it.
12:44When these bugs are ready to lay their eggs,
12:46they find some cozy place with lots of timber around,
12:49such as beneath your wood flooring, for instance, and rest there.
12:53The hatching larvae are hungry,
12:55so they start munching on the delicious wood their caring mom left them on.
13:00They can eat almost 24-7 and only stop when they finally mature
13:04and are ready to go explore the world outside.
13:07As they do, they leave small exit holes in the wooden items they'd been living in.
13:12The danger is that these beetles are silent as opposed to wasps,
13:16so you won't hear a thing while they're snacking on your favorite cupboard.
13:21The first sign of their presence you're likely to notice is the exit hole,
13:25and that means the wood borer has already done some damage inside.
13:30While most species of borers don't do much harm to your dwelling,
13:33except for those exit holes,
13:35some of them can be a huge trouble.
13:38For example, the European house borer can do a lot of damage
13:42to an older house if it decides to lay its eggs there.
13:45Although these bugs like to feed on sapwood,
13:48which is more likely in newer houses,
13:50they can still make nests in older ones too.
13:52And given that the European house borer is pretty big,
13:56up to about three-quarters of an inch,
13:58the exit holes it leaves are quite large and noticeable too.
14:02Other borers still, like the Queensland pine beetle,
14:06native to Australia, often eat through older houses,
14:09undermining their structure completely.
14:11If you happen to have an infestation of these guys,
14:14the best course of action is to call pest control immediately.
14:18The only good news, perhaps, is that wood borers don't attack humans.
14:22Well, that's something.
14:24Now, these bugs won't eat you or your house,
14:27but having them inside your home is still unpleasant and dangerous.
14:31You know them well.
14:33Cockroaches.
14:34And if you've seen one in your house during the day,
14:36I've got bad news for you.
14:38There are already dozens, if not hundreds, of these pests crawling around the place.
14:44Cockroaches are nocturnal creatures,
14:46and seeing one or two in your kitchen when you come for a midnight snack is not that bad yet.
14:52But when they appear in broad daylight,
14:54it means some numbers of their colony are already growing desperate.
14:59It would do you good to call pest control fast in that case.
15:04Cockroaches prefer to live in places where there's plenty of food, water, and human environment to snuggle into.
15:11This is a perfect description of an older human dwelling.
15:14There's more than enough space for roaches to hide and prosper,
15:18and people themselves provide all the food and water the pests need.
15:22Their favorite snacks are meat, starch, and sweet stuff.
15:25But they don't mind ransacking your garbage bin or pantry.
15:29They won't eat through your walls or furniture, and in that regard, they're pretty harmless.
15:33But cockroaches are known carriers of various dangerous germs.
15:37If a cockroach rummaged in, let's say, your sugar bowl,
15:41and then you put that sugar into your tea,
15:43you've got a chance of contracting something nasty.
15:46And, of course, the more roaches there are in your house, the higher this possibility is.
15:54It's not hard to recognize a cockroach infestation.
15:57The first sign you should look out for is the smell.
16:01Roaches emit odorous substances into the air,
16:04making your home smell oily and musty.
16:06The stronger the odor, the more pests there are.
16:09So don't hesitate to call the specialist even if you haven't seen a single cockroach yet.
16:14A much more significant symptom of their presence in your house
16:18is finding shed roach skin around the place.
16:21They have a chitin carapace that they replace from time to time as they grow.
16:25So, if you find one, it means there's at least an entire cockroach family somewhere around.
16:31But much more likely, there's a whole colony already.
16:35Finally, nothing can be more compelling than seeing a live cockroach with your own eyes, right?
16:40If you notice a grown one, that might be good news for you yet.
16:45Roaches habitually travel in search of the best place to live in.
16:48So, when there's an adult cockroach in your house that you see at night,
16:52it might still not have begun a family of its own.
16:55But if you enter the kitchen and see one or more smaller cockroaches, well, that's bad luck.
17:01It means their parents are somewhere inside your house, as well as their siblings.
17:05By the way, although the kitchen is, by all means, the most fruitful place for these creepers,
17:11you might also spot them in your bathroom while taking a shower.
17:17Roaches find delight in munching on soap,
17:19so it's no surprise they crawl into this warm and moist room of your house.
17:25Well, I find this whole thing disgusting.
17:27Have a good day.
17:31Let's crack a burglar's coat, tape on the door handle, or a slice of cheese on the car's hood,
17:36and many more can be signs that you're being watched by a crook.
17:42Burglars don't just pick a house randomly and rob it.
17:45They'll often monitor the home before they take action.
17:48They want to know more about the house and its security.
17:51They leave markings on the home, garage door, post box, or storage unit.
17:55Get to know these markings and know what they symbolize,
17:58and you'll be able to better protect your home from the bad guys.
18:03If you see a circle drawn, that means in the eyes of the thieves,
18:06your house is a piece of cake to rob.
18:09Maybe it has no home security system set up.
18:12Yet, a barred circle means to avoid entry.
18:15Maybe the home has high-tech alarms, CCTV cameras, or a dog.
18:20Ladder-like lines means there are valuables visible in the home,
18:24so there are items in the house worth stealing.
18:26If someone sprays the letter M in the garbage, that means empty in the morning,
18:30and N refers to empty at night.
18:33Police forces have issued warnings about the code,
18:36but keep in mind that some of these signs are actually harmless messages
18:40used by road workers to communicate about pipelines, and so on.
18:45If you see some evidence of key bumping, don't enter the house.
18:49Key bumping is a technique where burglars use a similar key made with a heavier metal than the pins
18:55to file down the pins on the inside of the lock.
18:58Plus, victims may encounter some problems while claiming insurance in such cases
19:03because this technique may leave no sign of forced entry on the outside of the lock.
19:07You're being robbed, and you can't prove it to the insurance company.
19:11Sounds like a nightmare.
19:15Lockpicking is a less forceful technique.
19:17This one will leave marks on the doorknob, such as light scratches around the lock,
19:21but the real signs will be found on the inside of the lock on the pins.
19:25They'll have dents.
19:27Heavy scrapes or marks on your doorknob can also indicate that someone has entered your home.
19:32Thieves sometimes use screwdrivers to break the pins in the lock.
19:36If you see deep scratches, marks, or a widening of the keyhole, be careful when you get inside.
19:43Thieves may stick a tape, and it's usually a see-through one, on the door handle.
19:48Suppose the tape is still there a day or so later.
19:50The squatters believe that the owner is away since the door hasn't been used.
19:54This strategy has become alarmingly prominent in Dublin.
19:58The police warned people to be vigilant and remove any tape immediately after seeing it.
20:04Some of these markings are left by dog thieves, signaling that your home has a money-wise worthy breed to
20:10steal.
20:11Supposedly, red chalk marks are for large dogs, and yellow and pink marks refer to medium and small dogs.
20:18The police advise dog owners to keep their eyes open around their properties,
20:22and report any such instances to the police.
20:25Lastly, pay extra attention when walking their pets.
20:30One of the keys to being safe at a house is having good security and knowing your property.
20:35For instance, if your front door locks are still responsive but function slowly, it may be a sign of a
20:41burglar attempt.
20:42This might be because of a tactic called the vulnerability method.
20:48Thieves make the door lock weaker with time.
20:50They use tools or objects to deteriorate the lock without leaving any traces.
20:56You may think your lock is old and simply postpone calling a locksmith, but that would be a huge mistake.
21:04Similarly, the key might turn inside the lock with delay.
21:08If it's harder to turn inside, this is usually the first sign of an attempted break-in.
21:13So, this is probably the most important warning sign you should take into consideration.
21:18Even security door locks are vulnerable to break-ins.
21:23Did you know that in Churchill, Canada, locals keep their car doors unlocked?
21:27They don't do this to invite the thieves, but to survive a potential polar bear attack.
21:33The town has the largest number of polar bears in the world.
21:37Imagine a resident faced with a polar bear and another person's car is nearby.
21:41They can quickly shelter inside that car.
21:45How about learning some safety tips to avoid purse snatching?
21:48Firstly, don't carry a shoulder bag over your shoulder.
21:51I know, I know.
21:53It's what the bag is designed for.
21:54But this makes it easier for a thief to grab your bag.
21:57For example, carrying a small clutch-type handbag underneath your arm is safer.
22:03Shopping with someone else is safer than shopping alone.
22:06On shopping days, and in general, don't carry more money than you would possibly need for all your credit cards
22:12in the same purse.
22:13Carry only what you need for the day.
22:16You might think, it's just for a sec, but don't leave your purse in shopping carts or on counters.
22:22And there's the matter of scams.
22:25When you believe you can't be scammed, you might let yourself be more vulnerable to scammers.
22:30Scams target everyone from all backgrounds, ages, and incomes.
22:34They can catch you off guard and when you're not expecting it, using new technologies, products, or even services to
22:40hook you,
22:41to either give them your money or personal details.
22:43How to be scam-proof?
22:45Firstly, keep in mind that if it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
22:50Secondly, don't respond to calls about your computer asking for remote access, even if they mention a well-known company.
22:57Scammers will often ask you to turn on your computer to fix a problem or install a free upgrade.
23:03This is actually a virus to get your passwords and personal details.
23:07Lastly, pay attention to unusual payment requests.
23:11Scammers will often ask you to use an unusual payment method, like a preloaded debit card, gift card, or iTunes
23:17card.
23:20A carjacker and a slice of cheese, what connection can there be?
23:24Imagine you walk to your car and see melted cheese on the engine cap.
23:28You initially thought that it was probably some kind of a prank, so you begin to clean the cheese.
23:33Naturally, it takes ages under the hot sun.
23:36Pay attention to your surroundings.
23:38Someone might be watching you from a distance and waiting for the right time.
23:42They can just jump into your car and run away while you're not looking at the driver's door, busy cleaning
23:47the cheese near the passenger side.
23:50Did you know that you might have an extra key in your car?
23:53Some cars have valet keys hidden under the owner's manual or in the toolkit in the trunk.
23:58If your car has that spare pair, take it out immediately.
24:03If you know where it is, thieves will know it too.
24:06Plus, don't think you have a perfect hiding spot for your spare keys.
24:10Car thieves know where to look.
24:12For example, some people hide the extra key under the bumper or beneath the floor mat.
24:17Thieves routinely check those places as well.
24:21Speaking of car theft, now it might be a good time to talk about the habits and strategies of car
24:27burglars.
24:27They don't really go for wide open and visible locations like in front of houses and driveways.
24:33Dark and secluded places such as apartment buildings, carports, and underground parking garages appeal to them because it's quieter.
24:41He could hear if somebody was coming.
24:44Have you heard of vehicle identification number, a.k.a. VIN?
24:48This is a unique number for every car out there.
24:51You can engrave the VIN on your car windows.
24:54This makes your car less valuable on the black market for its parts.
24:58Plus, changing the car windows costs quite a lot, so crooks try to avoid such cars.
25:04Overall, it's better not to be an inviting, easy target.
25:07So, do you have some real-life stories about all these?
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