Home Buying Search And Selection Tips For A More Successful Experience
The home-buying process is filled with contracts, credit applications, and important documents. But as you prepare to acquire a house, you want to make sure you find and buy a home that is right for your needs and as expected without any unpleasant surprises, such as hidden mold or interior damage. Here are some tips to help you avoid making a mistake in the selection process as you shop for the perfect home to fit your needs.
Verify the Home's Amenities
When you tour through a home with your realtor, you will look at the features and specifics in the home and make a mental assessment of each. However, your visual assessment may or may not be correct. When you make incorrect assumptions of a home's features during an initial tour, it can give you false ideas about a home and can put you at risk for disappointment about your purchase later on.
As an example of a home feature you may make a mistaken assessment about, you may look at the kitchen counters and think they are granite when, in fact, they are a laminate that only looks like granite. Another home feature you might make a mistaken assumption about is counting a room as a bedroom when it is not legally considered a bedroom because it does not have a closet. In addition to the room not being considered a bedroom, which will affect the home's value, it can also make your use of the room as a bedroom more difficult. For example, you will have to purchase a wardrobe unit or clothing rack for the room for a space to store and hang clothing.
Before you make any assumptions about a home's features, size, amenities, or systems, look at the home specification sheet that will be available to your realtor. This list of the home's features and amenities will provide all details about the home, which you can and should verify. It can also be a good idea to view the home more than once to help you get a realistic view of it. You may notice details during your second walk-through that you did not see the first time.
Hire an Inspection
After you complete as much of your own due diligence to check a home's features and amenities, you should follow this up by hiring a professional home inspection to help you in a thorough check of the home. A home inspection by a professional inspector will provide you with an in-depth report of a home's systems and components and their condition.
For example, the inspector will look at the attic space and the roof for any problems. They can also look at the basement and foundation walls for issues of settlement or foundation cracking problems. They'll compile their findings in a report that will help you get a better idea about the home and its condition.
Contact a real estate agent for more information.