The Infatuation Trap. Do you have doubts about the house? Don't try to rationalize them out of your mind because the home is so charming you cannot resist it.

The $5,000 Roof Trap. Some people do not mind leaks or sparks coming out of the wall. If you are one who does, you must factor in the cost of these repairs. Perhaps you need to negotiate a lower purchase price.

The Mansion-in-a-Slum Trap. Let me state my warning on costs once again. Will the fixing-up be done by someone else? Prepare yourself with at least three estimates on each job that is going to be done. Add up the cost. Does your total investment after renovation equal more than the market value of similar San Diego, CA homes in the area? If so, you are overbuilding. This is not a good economic decision.

The Step-into-My-Bedroom Trap. One thing people fail to check when they purchase a home with rooms that have been added is the floor plan. When you come into the front door, what is the first thing you see? If you walk straight into your living room, with no hallway or foyer, you may want to consider another house. Some older San Diego, CA homes with rooms added on after the initial construction have poor traffic patterns. Imagine you have a guest arriving at your new abode. The front room is a sleeping porch. Is this what you want your guest to see? How are the bedrooms laid out? Are the children's bedrooms right next to yours? Do you like this idea? Walk through the house as if it were a typical day. You are cooking dinner, your spouse is coming home, your children are bouncing in from school. Guests are coming. How does the traffic flow work? Will you have to add additional walls inside to change the flow? What will the walls cost?

The Beautiful-Fireplace Trap. Do not be dazzled by gimmicks. Are you buying a house because it has a gorgeous old fireplace and mantel? That is fine, as long as inspectors tell you the major elements-plumbing, heating, wiring, roof, and so on-are sound. But if the charming old wreck's wiring has been jury-rigged, smoke could be coming out of the wires three months later. At that moment, the fireplace will be of small comfort.

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