Before You Buy a House
Content
BEFORE YOU BUY A HOUSE By; Louis Cepeda Before you start your search for your new home, be sure to get a clearer idea of your housing needs. The more specific you are in your answers to the following questions, the less time you will probably spend viewing unsuitable homes.
What style of home are you looking for? How many bedrooms? Are you interested in a den or family room? How many bathrooms will you need? How large of a kitchen are you interested in? Do you prefer an older house or a more modern one? Do you want to live in a rural or urban environment? How much do you want to spend? Are you interested in a corner lot? How big of a front and back yard do you want? Do you want a one, two or three car garage? How much remodeling are you willing to do? Will you need an office for a home-based business? Do you prefer that the property be already landscaped? What kind of heating system do you want: electric or gas? Buying a house is one of the most significant decisions you
and your family will ever make and some planning ahead can only help the process go smoother. At the top of your list of priorities should be finding the right location; the type of community that is best suited for your family's needs and desires. To get a better idea of the area you are planning to move in to, schedule at least two or three exploratory trips before making a final decision.
The desirability of a particular house should be the result of what you find out about the community on these trips. In finding the right location for you and your family, consider the following points:
real estate taxes.
-up rates. strictions.
Careful and proper inspection of the exterior of a house you are interested in purchasing can save you both money and a lot of headaches later. The purpose of any exterior examination is to find major deficiencies in the construction of the house and settling the cost of repairing such defects with the seller. The first thing you should check out about the exterior is the lot or the land surrounding the house.
big to maintain or too small for your needs?
Next inspect the driveway and garage.
automobiles? tool shed?
problems in icy weather? If the house comes with worthwhile improvements like a patio or a deck, be certain that the improvements are in good shape.
-proofing?
Although flaws in the roof are hard to see from the ground, look for tell-tale signs that may expose potential problems.
Are there any rust spots on the outside of the house from improper drainage? Is the roof surface free of large dents or depressions? Are there any loose shingles? Do the gutters need replacing? Also, check out the condition of all outer walls and
entrances carefully.
Is the paint full of blisters or chipping? Are there any cracks in the walls or the foundation? What is the condition of the wood in the door and window frames?
Are the screens and storm windows in good shape? You can't possibly check a house for all its problems, but
you can probably avoid some major costs later by giving the place a thorough inspection before signing a contract. In order to make an adequate inspection, you should have a firm grasp of basic construction and an idea of what you are looking for in a house. If you are looking at an older home, one you suspect may have faulty wiring, plumping or heating problems, check with the Better Business Bureau in your area about companies that specializes in complete home inspections. The inspection company can uncover potential problems and give you estimates of the cost to repair them. If you decide to inspect the house yourself, use the following checklist as a guide. And remember, don't expect perfection. Look for structurally sound construction and good materials. WALLS - Walls serve as a background for furniture so make sure that they are smoothly painted and need no repairs. CEILINGS - Again, like walls, they should be smoothly painted and void of cracks, brown and water spots or any other damages. Also, make sure the ceiling's height is to your liking. FLOORS - Whether the flooring is hardwood or covered with carpeting or linoleum, the subflooring beneath it should be strong and adequate. Walk around the house and listen for squeaks or other noises. A noisy floor is usually an indication that problems exist underneath. DOORS - Check to see that the main outside doors are made of a solid wood and not hollow-core doors that are easier to break
down. Also, open and close each door in the house to be certain that they are all properly set in the frame. WINDOWS - Open and close all windows to see if they are working properly. If you don't see storm windows and window screens, ask about their availability. INSULATION - Houses that are insulated correctly can reduce heat loss considerably and save on utility bills. During your inspection, take note of areas that have drafts or seem cooler than others. KITCHEN - The kitchen is one of the most important assets in a house. Look and carefully inspect cabinets, countertops, flooring, layout and appliances. If you are not satisfied with any of these components, discuss and negotiate changes you want with the seller. BATHROOM - Another important room in the house is the bathroom. Take notice of the condition of plumbing fixtures and the bathtub. Look for well-placed electrical outlets and sufficient storage space. FIREPLACE - If there is a fireplace, check for cracks in the bricks or stones used. Loose cement can also indicate a problem. Test the working condition of the fireplace by opening and closing the flue several times. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - When you inspect a home, check out the panel box, which normally has all the house's fuses or breakers. Remember that one disadvantage of fuses is that they have to be replaced. Also, make sure there are enough light switches and electrical outlets in each room to satisfy your needs. Putting in new ones later can be very costly. HEATING SYSTEM - Determine what kind of fuel you want to heat your home, gas or electric. Since fuel is a major component of your monthly housing expenses, get an idea of what the yearly fuel bill will be before deciding on gas or electric.
PLUMBING - Test each faucet in the house for pressure. Fill each sink and tub to see how they drain. Look for leaks under sinks or brownish stains and cracks on the wall. Finally, remember that buying a house is probably the biggest financial commitment you will ever make. There is also the chance that you will occupy this residence for many decades to come. So before you go out and make the biggest purchase of your life, be sure you know what you are getting for your money. One of your major goals should be to get pretty much what you wanted when you set out to buy a house in the first place.
What style of home are you looking for? How many bedrooms? Are you interested in a den or family room? How many bathrooms will you need? How large of a kitchen are you interested in? Do you prefer an older house or a more modern one? Do you want to live in a rural or urban environment? How much do you want to spend? Are you interested in a corner lot? How big of a front and back yard do you want? Do you want a one, two or three car garage? How much remodeling are you willing to do? Will you need an office for a home-based business? Do you prefer that the property be already landscaped? What kind of heating system do you want: electric or gas? Buying a house is one of the most significant decisions you
and your family will ever make and some planning ahead can only help the process go smoother. At the top of your list of priorities should be finding the right location; the type of community that is best suited for your family's needs and desires. To get a better idea of the area you are planning to move in to, schedule at least two or three exploratory trips before making a final decision.
The desirability of a particular house should be the result of what you find out about the community on these trips. In finding the right location for you and your family, consider the following points:
real estate taxes.
-up rates. strictions.
Careful and proper inspection of the exterior of a house you are interested in purchasing can save you both money and a lot of headaches later. The purpose of any exterior examination is to find major deficiencies in the construction of the house and settling the cost of repairing such defects with the seller. The first thing you should check out about the exterior is the lot or the land surrounding the house.
big to maintain or too small for your needs?
Next inspect the driveway and garage.
automobiles? tool shed?
problems in icy weather? If the house comes with worthwhile improvements like a patio or a deck, be certain that the improvements are in good shape.
-proofing?
Although flaws in the roof are hard to see from the ground, look for tell-tale signs that may expose potential problems.
Are there any rust spots on the outside of the house from improper drainage? Is the roof surface free of large dents or depressions? Are there any loose shingles? Do the gutters need replacing? Also, check out the condition of all outer walls and
entrances carefully.
Is the paint full of blisters or chipping? Are there any cracks in the walls or the foundation? What is the condition of the wood in the door and window frames?
Are the screens and storm windows in good shape? You can't possibly check a house for all its problems, but
you can probably avoid some major costs later by giving the place a thorough inspection before signing a contract. In order to make an adequate inspection, you should have a firm grasp of basic construction and an idea of what you are looking for in a house. If you are looking at an older home, one you suspect may have faulty wiring, plumping or heating problems, check with the Better Business Bureau in your area about companies that specializes in complete home inspections. The inspection company can uncover potential problems and give you estimates of the cost to repair them. If you decide to inspect the house yourself, use the following checklist as a guide. And remember, don't expect perfection. Look for structurally sound construction and good materials. WALLS - Walls serve as a background for furniture so make sure that they are smoothly painted and need no repairs. CEILINGS - Again, like walls, they should be smoothly painted and void of cracks, brown and water spots or any other damages. Also, make sure the ceiling's height is to your liking. FLOORS - Whether the flooring is hardwood or covered with carpeting or linoleum, the subflooring beneath it should be strong and adequate. Walk around the house and listen for squeaks or other noises. A noisy floor is usually an indication that problems exist underneath. DOORS - Check to see that the main outside doors are made of a solid wood and not hollow-core doors that are easier to break
down. Also, open and close each door in the house to be certain that they are all properly set in the frame. WINDOWS - Open and close all windows to see if they are working properly. If you don't see storm windows and window screens, ask about their availability. INSULATION - Houses that are insulated correctly can reduce heat loss considerably and save on utility bills. During your inspection, take note of areas that have drafts or seem cooler than others. KITCHEN - The kitchen is one of the most important assets in a house. Look and carefully inspect cabinets, countertops, flooring, layout and appliances. If you are not satisfied with any of these components, discuss and negotiate changes you want with the seller. BATHROOM - Another important room in the house is the bathroom. Take notice of the condition of plumbing fixtures and the bathtub. Look for well-placed electrical outlets and sufficient storage space. FIREPLACE - If there is a fireplace, check for cracks in the bricks or stones used. Loose cement can also indicate a problem. Test the working condition of the fireplace by opening and closing the flue several times. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - When you inspect a home, check out the panel box, which normally has all the house's fuses or breakers. Remember that one disadvantage of fuses is that they have to be replaced. Also, make sure there are enough light switches and electrical outlets in each room to satisfy your needs. Putting in new ones later can be very costly. HEATING SYSTEM - Determine what kind of fuel you want to heat your home, gas or electric. Since fuel is a major component of your monthly housing expenses, get an idea of what the yearly fuel bill will be before deciding on gas or electric.
PLUMBING - Test each faucet in the house for pressure. Fill each sink and tub to see how they drain. Look for leaks under sinks or brownish stains and cracks on the wall. Finally, remember that buying a house is probably the biggest financial commitment you will ever make. There is also the chance that you will occupy this residence for many decades to come. So before you go out and make the biggest purchase of your life, be sure you know what you are getting for your money. One of your major goals should be to get pretty much what you wanted when you set out to buy a house in the first place.
