Are you planning to buy your dream home? If so, consider the following factors when going to an Open House or when doing a Home Tour:
- Location – Is it near your place of work, children’s school, grocery stores, and other to-go places? Make sure you are choosing a city that suits your family’s needs.
- Neighborhood – Don’t just fix your eyes on the house. Also, look at the surrounding area. Is it a safe place for your family? Is it suitable for your lifestyle?
- Schools – If you have or is planning to have children, consider schools when searching for a home. Check the quality of education in that school zone and consider commute time. Can your children get there just by walking or, how long is the commute time?
- Amenities – Look for a home that has the features that are important to you, such as a large backyard, an attached garage, or updated kitchen appliances.
- Price – Price dictates what you can buy. When looking at homes, make sure they are within your price range.
- Budget – To avoid wasting too much time and energy, get a pre-approval from a trusted lender to figure out how much house you can afford before you start looking for homes.
- Exterior – Have a professional do a home inspection to ensure you won’t have any future surprises causing you to spend more (on repairs) only after a few months of owning the home.
- Parking – Look at the space available at the front of the property and make sure the home has a garage and a parking space.
- Foundation – The foundation is literally what holds a house together. Check for cracks in the interior and exterior walls, window and cabinet misalignment, floor or ceiling sagging, mildew and and mold smells, and sticking doors. These may all point to problems with the home’s foundation.
- Doors and Windows – Open doors and windows. Also shut every door behind you as you’re being shown around to make sure they all work.
If you are planning to sell or buy a home, let’s chat!