Looking for a house to buy can be exciting! However, with all the excitement and other factors it's pretty easy to get caught up in a house with cool features while ignoring important factors in your decision. This post is a simple guide for things to keep in mind while on the hunt.
What to look for
Your requirements
When looking for a house, you should create a list of things a house MUST have for you even to consider it. This list is your non-negotiables, and if this house doesn't have all of your non-negotiables, you don't even check out the property. This could be the city it is located in, or the number of bedrooms, if there is a fence in the yard, etc. You create your personal non-negotiable list and make sure the houses you are viewing meet your requirements.
The neighborhood
Many a stories exist of buyers purchasing houses without actually stepping foot inside the house. While I advise NOT doing this on multiple levels, one of the reasons is the inability to get a sense of the neighborhood. Are the other houses EXACTLY the same as yours, and would that bother you? Are the other houses way below the quality of the house you are about to buy? Are there kids in the neighborhood for your kids to play with? Can you hear the highway from where you are at? The house might be amazing, but the neighborhood it is in also is a very important factor in your decision.
Quality
It's so easy to fall in love with a house that has all the colors you love, the perfect amount of rooms and large size, and completely ignore checking the quality of the home. One of the things you should be checking for is the condition of roof. A roof should be replaced every 12-30 years depending on the type of roof, so step one is finding the age of the roof. Step two is looking for any missing shingles, or cupped shaped shingles. Another thing to check for is the foundation. Walking around the property looking for cracks, separation between windows and the house, unsquared doors, or even literal sinking of the house could be signs of a bad foundation.
(Note: Even after checking everything yourself, once a contract is in place an inspection from an inspector is HIGHLY encouraged. Inspectors can find important problems that you may have missed when viewing the property yourself.)
The systems
How old and how in shape are the systems the house has in place? This is another thing that the inspector will checkout and notify you of, however getting a feel of the systems before even putting in an offer can help you make a decision. Some things to look for are the types of air conditioning and heating that they are using - does it use gas, electric? Also give the plumbing a look: turn on the shower and check out the water pressure, flush a toilet and see how that is. It would be quite a surprise to purchase the house, only to then find out your shower drips its water on you.
What not to look for
Minor cosmetics
The color of the walls doesn't matter, the furniture that is in the house doesn't matter. When viewing a property, try your best to look at the floor plan, and the things that you CAN'T change. When a house is purchased, you can rip up the ugly carpet, or paint the walls, and the furniture you can't stand won't even be there. Try your best to walk the property ignoring the furniture and picturing the walls blank.
Landscaping
This is another thing that can be changed, and quite easily. Don't say no to your dream house because the garden bed out front isn't pretty. You can rid of the garden bed. Once again, focus on the things that cannot be changed!
Making a decision
The yes list
Think long term, and picture yourself in the house. Does it fit all your requirements? Is the neighborhood nice? Is it up to date and in pretty good condition? If so, this property should be on your yes list. Many people become overwhelmed at this point at the sheer amount of properties they COULD have and don't want to commit to one, or are scared that a better one will pop up after they already buy one. Don't get caught in this trap. Make a list of 'yes' houses (those that pass the list in this blog,) and then go through the process of elimination. Cross off the worst one, then the next worst one, until you have one house remaining. That house is the one you put an offer in on... With Chase Taake as your Realtor.