Believe it or not, phrases such as "newly remodeled" and "recently updated" can be red flags to some buyers because they could indicate that the seller is out to flip the house. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but sellers should work to highlight any improvements while being careful not to present the home as a flip, according to Vince Clingenpeel, whose Clingenpeel Properties in Falls Church, Va., inspects homes on behalf of buyers.

"The biggest fear I have for buyers is the flip," Clingenpeel says. "In my experience, one out of 20 is properly executed with proper permits."

While a lack of proper permits might mean a headache for a buyer, Clingenpeel reports that buyers of flipped homes sometimes find that the quality of the work done is "horrendous." So if you're selling a newly remodeled home, make sure to emphasize that the work was properly permitted and executed at a level any homeowner would be happy with.