This article is to provide tips on what to look for when house shopping in today’s market. This is not to deter you from purchasing homes that are “Perfect” for you and your family. This is just some things to consider when searching. Enjoy!
5 tips to keep in mind when purchasing a new home.
1. Get familiar with the neighborhood
This is a no brainer! When my husband and I were house shopping, we were diligently searching for homes in clean, quiet, and family- friendly neighborhoods. With their being such a competitive home buying market, this makes your options more scarce however just imagine rushing your decision then finding out that you live in the midst of a rowdy, unsafe environment. One thing I would recommend is riding through the neighborhood at 3 different times of the day (Early morning, late afternoon, and late evening). That way you get a glimpse of the culture of the neighbors, the amount of traffic, and you may even get to see some potential neighbors. Call me the dramatic momma if you want (haha) I was looking at landscaping, toys or furniture outside, decorations, cars, etc. I even occasionally took my Penny (dog) on a walk throughout some areas to see how “friendly” the area was. Do your research, type in the homes address on google, join the police Facebook group, etc.
2. Complete a thorough walk around the Entire Perimeter OUTSIDE of the home
Look for any bump’s bruises and discrepancies in the entire foundation of the home from the curb to the furthest of the backyard! Once you sign those papers, that home and everything it comes with is yours! That means if there is a crack in the driveway that could potentially cause a fall and harm someone, YOU ARE RELIABLE! For some towns (like my own) if there is a crack in the sidewalk in front of your home and someone falls, YOU ARE RELIABLE. If there is significant foundation damage, especially in brick homes it will cost you! How is the garage roof? Is the garage large enough for a car (We have surprisingly seen some that are not). How old is the fence? Does it come with a transferable warranty? Is there a fire hydrant Infront of the home? (your insurance company may offer a lower premium). Is there a wood deck? (How well was the upkeep). Check basement windows outside (any cracks, signs of water damage). Are there any trees to close to the home? (Can potentially cause foundation and plumbing issues).
3. Check for any updates to the home within the last few years
There is nothing worse than purchasing a home, then finding out that you have some costly repairs coming within the next year or so. (roof, foundation, electricity, plumbing, furnace, water heater, etc). Be sure that you are well aware of what has been updated in the home and the condition of the major appliances around the home. When my husband and I were house shopping, we literally used a receptacle tester to check the electricity around the home. Do not be afraid to ask questions!
4. Thoroughly check the walls in the basement
My Relator was very helpful with this! Before house shopping, I did not know that there were so many ways to check for water damage within a home by looking at the walls in the basement. Like some of you I enjoyed seeing the designs of finished basements and did not think twice of thoroughly inspecting. Look for wall discoloration, cracks, bulging in the foundation, of course musty smells or mold/ mildew, sagging insulation, condensation on the windows or plumbing.
5. Scheduled private showings is a must
Although my husband and I went to many open houses, we made sure to keep a list of potential homes and ensure that our relator scheduled a private viewing following the open house for a more thorough look inside. This is so important, especially in today’s market. Open houses can get so crowded with people that you start to feel crammed and just want to be in and out missing the most valuable aspects of the home. When you complete a private walk through you literally will see things that you did not notice at open house. BUT be mindful, a lot of sellers have cameras around their homes to listen and watch you walk through. I even seen sellers using baby monitors to monitor home viewings. When house shopping, we made it our mission to complete a thorough private walk through, then discuss our thoughts when outside of the home.
This list is by far not all inclusive. I just wanted to share some of the not so common tips that I found to be really helpful when looking to purchase our new home. Please feel free to comment below additional advice for readers or advice for me as it is always welcome! I hope that you enjoyed this post, see you next time!
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