5 Things To Look For When Buying A New Home
When you decide to purchase a new home, whether it's your first home purchase or your fifth, there are a few things you need to look at before you make an offer. Your real estate agent will help you spot these important things and can help you mull them over to make sure the house fits your needs and wants. While you may be focused on the condition of the kitchen, the size of the yard, and the number of rooms a home has, here are 5 more important things to consider to determine if a particular house is right for you:
1. The 3 Ls
The three Ls, which are the most important things to look for when buying a new house, are location, location, and location. If you love the neighborhood and the neighbors around the your new house, then any imperfections can be lived with or changed. You can change just about anything about a house, except for where it sits on the ground. Location is also important because you don't want your new home to be located too far from work, school, or any other important places in your life. You also need to consider traffic, noise from neighbors, pets, and access to shopping, parks, and public transportation.
2. The Neighborhood
You are not only moving into a new house, but you are also moving into a new neighborhood. If the neighborhood doesn't meet your expectations, then you'll never be happy in the house, no matter how perfect it is. One way to ensure the neighborhood is right for you is to drive around on weekends and weekdays, both during the day and at night. Are there children playing outside safely? Do residents keep their yards clean? Do you notice any shady activity taking place? These are all things you want to think about before deciding to make an offer on a home.
3. The Floor Plan
Buying a home is a long-term investment. In most cases, you'll be living in this new house for many years to come. You need to make sure the floor plan is practical and meets your needs now and in the future. For example, do you really need 4 bedrooms if you live alone? Do you need 4 bedrooms because you're probably going to have one more child in the next couple of years? While a large home gives you extra space for hobby rooms and man caves, it also costs more to heat, has higher taxes, takes more furniture to furnish it, and costs more money to decorate. Not to mention it will take longer to clean a bigger house, and maintenance is also more time consuming and expensive on a large house. They key is to find a home that fits your needs and your situation now, and in future, without being too big and impractical.
4. Site Factors
Going back outside your potential new home, you need to pay attention to the site the house is built on. You need to ask yourself the questions listed below. Your answers will help you decide if a particular house is right for you:
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Can you see directly into the neighbor's bedroom?
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Can you see into a neighbor's house?
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Is the yard big enough for kids and pets?
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Is there room for a garden?
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Is there a nice view?
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Does it have a walk-out basement?
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Are there lots of stairs to climb inside? What about outside?
5. Curb Appeal
Finally, look at your home from the outside. Does this home reflect your lifestyle? For example: if you like contemporary living spaces, then you won't be happy in a Victorian style home. Consider the exterior features of the home. Vinyl siding is practically maintenance free. Brick homes are also easy to maintain, unless the home is in an earthquake-prone area. Don't forget to look at the roof and make sure it's in good condition. Are the sidewalks and walkways leading to the house safe? Do you like the landscaping? Is the grass overgrown? Do the shrubs need trimming? The answers to all these questions will help you decide if a home is worth buying.
If you keep these specific elements of a home in mind, then your house hunting will be more successful. If you answer the many questions presented to you here positively, then you'll likely end up with the home of your dreams. If you are interested in touring homes and buying a new house, contact a company like Dargan Real Estate for more information.