April 18, 2016
Top House Hunting Tips
If you’ve ever tried house hunting, then you know firsthand just how difficult the process can be. This is especially true for first time homeowners who are more susceptible to being overwhelmed by the property’s best characteristics, while unintentionally downplaying several factors that may prove important later on. To avoid this, you should streamline your inspection process to make it more effective for future prospects. If you need additional assistance, here’s a list of effective tips that should help you out.
Get your priorities straight. Before you even start house hunting, take some time to reflect on what qualities you truly want in your future home. Make a list of these qualities and don’t forget to ask other members of your household for input as well. Afterwards, narrow down your list. Choose the top five qualities your future home really must have. Keep the other things on your list in mind, but make sure you always prioritize the top five qualities.
Make a comparative chart. After you’ve examined several potential houses, it becomes progressively more difficult to accurately remember the features of each one. So, do yourself a favor by bringing a comparative chart with you during every visit. While you’re touring the house, list down any noteworthy features or problems you may find along the way. In particular, you’ll want to note the prominent bedroom and bathroom features, landscaping, condition of its exterior and roof, amount of storage space, square footage, and estimated cost of repairs.
Ask if you can take photos or videos. You’d be surprised at how quick memory can fade. Fortunately, by taking photos and videos, you can make sure you have an accurate and detailed idea of how a particular house looks. It might even be a good idea to sketch a rough floor plan to accompany your photos and videos, so you can get a more complete picture. Before doing so however, make sure you get the realtor’s permission and use the photos and videos for personal use only.
Be thorough. For an average person, purchasing a home is one of the biggest, if not the biggest investment of their life. This is exactly why it’s important to thoroughly inspect a particular property before committing to it. Aside from all the usual places, you’ll also want to check the places that are not normally within your field of vision, such as the ceiling, roof, beneath the sink, inside the cabinets, and under the carpet. Any one of these places could be concealing serious damage, which could significantly increase your initial repair and move in costs.
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