Buying a home is a commitment that follows you for years. Whether this house will be your family’s first home or one of many you’ve moved to, you shouldn’t take it and all its features and history for granted. While figuring out the math behind the home you can afford, you should consider the ins and outs of a prospective home in its physical form.
Some houses may surprise you with how perfect they appear but actually have numerous issues that need fixing. Similarly, after analyzing the pros and cons, a home you weren’t too thrilled about could become your number-one choice.
While you’re house hunting, keep an open mind and run through this checklist. One of the listings you view just might surprise you!
1. Additional Fees
The first thing to scope out in any potential home is whether the house would cost you any money beyond what you’re already paying for it. You should look out for any repairs that would fall on you to fix. Do your own walkthrough and assess every part of the house, including the roof. And if you want your roof to be repaired, Mighty Dog Roofing Columbus West is a great help.
Check for any damage, no matter how small. Roofing repairs can cost you upwards of $1,500, so it’s best to be aware of any problems before moving forward with the home. You’ll also want to ask how old some of the systems are. Water heaters and HVAC systems don’t last forever, and you need to be prepared to replace them when they go bad.
2. Water Pressure
If you can, you should test the water pressure at a home you’re viewing. Trying the water pressure is an efficient way to see if you could find yourself living in a house.
Not many people think to check the water pressure as it comes out of the faucets, but it’s a big deal when you live there and plan to take a shower or use the water at the same time as someone else. A lack of water pressure can drastically influence your decision to buy a home.
3. Room Layout
In the future, you may be able to change the structure of your home, but why would you buy a house while disliking its floorplan? Consider the house as it is and whether the rooms will work out for what you need them for. Is there enough room for you to move the master bedroom upstairs so you can be closer to your children? Do you want a more spacious kitchen?
It’s essential to think of how a house can serve you in the future, but you must think of your family’s needs at this moment, too. You can turn an extra bedroom into a home office, but you can’t turn a bathroom into a kitchen without significant work. Make sure the rooms that the house offers you are everything you need and more.
4. History of Pests
You should know all the details of your potential home, past and present. This knowledge includes which pests former owners may have dealt with and how long ago. You should also learn whether the owner of the home had a regular pest control plan in place.
In climates with warmer summers and winters, you should get experts to treat pests on a regular basis year-round. If the former owner didn’t have a treatment plan in place, there might be infestations you have to deal with.
5. Surrounding Area
You shouldn’t just analyze the house you might move into — you need to look at the surrounding area, too. Analyze the neighborhoods around your home. Do they look like they’re full of other families you can make friends with? How far away are the stores you prefer to shop at? How far are the schools your children will attend? Will your commute to work get longer or shorter with this move?
Asking yourself these questions and measuring the distances between your potential new home and your favorite or essential locations is an excellent way to weed out houses that seem perfect otherwise but are too far away from necessities.
6. Future Needs
Keep in mind that you can always renovate parts of your home down the line, but some things just can’t be changed. How long do you plan to stay in this location? Are you anticipating a move just years down the line, or do you plan to turn this home into a rental property? Do you need a big backyard for pets and children?
Most mortgages are 30 years long, and even if 15-year mortgages boast the lowest interest rates, it’s still a long time to be paying down a home. It’s a commitment, an investment that will follow you for years to come. While you should buy for your needs right now, you should also buy with the future in mind.
7. Your Vision of Home
You shouldn’t decide against buying a home just because it doesn’t fit the aesthetic you had in mind. However, you should note the differences you would want to make to the house. If you don’t like something structurally, you either can’t change it or should expect to pay a hefty price in the future to make it to your liking.
If it’s something as simple as disliking the paint color, you can easily fix it without incurring a hefty fee. Think of the house for what it could be, realistically, rather than what it is. Analyze what aspects of a home are deal-breakers and which ones you can live with, if only for the time being. Through this list, you’ll know what to look for to narrow down your perfect home.
Find the Home That’s Right for You
Searching for the right home to buy can be a daunting task sometimes. Knowing what to look for in a house can quickly help you decide if something is a dream home or a flop. Keep in mind both the inside and outside of the house. Think of any renovations you’d like to make before signing the contract. This way, you can plan for the future while buying something that suits your present needs, too.
Buying a home is a commitment that follows you for years. Whether this house will be your family’s first home or one of many you’ve moved to, you shouldn’t take it and all its features and history for granted. While figuring out the math behind the home you can afford, you should consider the ins and outs of a prospective home in its physical form.
Some houses may surprise you with how perfect they appear but actually have numerous issues that need fixing. Similarly, after analyzing the pros and cons, a home you weren’t too thrilled about could become your number-one choice.
While you’re house hunting, keep an open mind and run through this checklist. One of the listings you view just might surprise you!
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