House-hunting has always been stressful and exhausting. In recent years there’s a whole new layer of difficulty being added to the process as, once again, technology that’s supposed to make our lives easier instead betrays us—because now we have to deal with “catfish” homes.
The phrase is a riff on the term “catfish,” which describes a scam where people use fake social media profiles to establish a relationship. A catfish house is one where a lot of effort goes into making the house look updated and in good condition when it’s actually neither of those things. This goes beyond the deceptive photos routinely used in real estate listings, or the egregious ways real estate TV shows fudge the truth around house flips. It crosses over into real harm, because you can be fooled into buying a house that’s hiding expensive problems—and that could even be dangerous to live in.
How a catfish house can fool you
Catfish houses go beyond the staging and photography tricks used to make homes look their best and cross over into potential fraud. On a recent episode of HGTV’s “Why the Heck Did I Buy This House” the “catfish house” problem was depicted in horrifying detail. In a clip posted to Instagram, an electrician showed that real effort had been put into updating only the aspects of the electrical infrastructure that could be seen—panels, outlets, and short lengths of wire that would be exposed. Everything else was old, not up to code—and potentially very dangerous. But it could only be seen once the walls were opened up.
Some of the ways a catfish house can prove to be deceptive include:
Listing bedrooms that turn out to be too small or awkwardly shaped to be used—or that don’t meet the legal standards for a bedroom, which typically require an egress window and a closet.
Purely cosmetic work hiding significant problems. For example, cheap carpeting over damaged floors, fresh paint over mold or ongoing water damage, and new fixtures attached to broken or failing plumbing or wiring.
Using Photoshop or other digital tools to imply upgrades that haven’t actually been done, like making walls seem freshly painted, or making kitchen cabinetry look new instead of battered.
Covering up foundation problems like cracks with superficial fillers and paint.
Exaggerating the size of the home with deceptive photos and “fuzzy” math that includes unfinished spaces or outdoor areas in the square footage.
Insect damage and rot to joists and wall studs that’s just left in place—the bugs may be gone, but the framing of the house is compromised and hidden behind new walls and flooring.
What makes a house into a catfish is the intention to deceive. While many real estate listings strive to present the property in an ideal way that might not represent the everyday reality of living there, a catfish house actually hides serious problems or fakes significant upgrades.
How to avoid a catfish house
Obviously, buying a catfish house is something to avoid. While you might have legal remedies to pursue if you discover you’ve been fooled into buying one, spending years in court while simultaneously spending a small fortune to repair and renovate a home you thought was move-in ready isn’t exactly an ideal scenario. So how can you avoid buying a catfish house in the first place?
Inspections. Never waive your right to have a property inspected, and regard any pressure to do so from the seller as suspicious unless the home is advertised as an “as-is” sale. In high-pressure, multiple-bid situations, waiving your right to inspect is sometimes suggested as a way to improve your chances, but only do so if you’re ready to deal with whatever’s lurking under the surface.
Photos. Always be skeptical of photos in real estate listings. Beyond the usual wide-angle lens tricks, pay attention to details like the time of year—if the photos show a bright spring day but it’s currently cold and snowy out, those photos may show the home from years ago. Also think about what’s not shown in those photos—are all the bedrooms and bathrooms in the listing shown? Missing rooms or other features might indicate some chicanery is being hidden.
Physical signs. One possible sign of a catfish house is fresh work despite the listing not mentioning a recent renovation. While freshly painted walls are a common way to freshen up a house for sale, look at things like
Wall plates. Mis-matched or loose outlet and switch plates might indicate quick, dirty work to hide an electrical problem. Brand-new plates on walls that haven’t been painted might also be a clue.
Inconsistent performance. Flickering lights or inconsistent water pressure in certain areas of the house without a disclosed problem can be danger signs.
Wall textures. Look at those freshly painted walls: Are there smooth spots that could indicate a hasty drywall repair? Or rough spots where joint compound was larded into a hole and poorly finished?
Floor bounce. Pay attention to more than how floors look—think about how they feel. Bouncy floors might indicate problems with the joists underneath new carpeting or recently installed flooring.