After several years of diligently saving money, I’m nearly ready to purchase my first home. Because I’ve been thinking about buying a home for so long, I know exactly what I want my house to look like. I desire a place that has three bedrooms and three bathrooms. I also need a quiet space to set up my home office in. I want a massive, walk-in closet in my master bedroom. My master bathroom needs to have double vanities, a tiled, walk-in shower, and a Jacuzzi tub. On this blog, I hope you will discover how to set priorities during your new home search. Enjoy!
A New Home Search
4 Things to Investigate Before Buying a Home
Elli Jokela
If you are ready to purchase a home and you have found a house or two you are interested in purchasing, there are some things you are going to want to investigate before buying any home you are interested in.
Thing #1: The Length of Time the Home Has Been on the Market
First, you need to find out how long the seller has been officially trying to sell the home. Often, if a home is priced too high, it will sit on the market for a long time. If the house has been on the market for more than a month or two, the seller may be more willing to work with you to sell the home.
The length of the home listing should be easy to find. Most real estate websites will show you the entire listing history, which will allow you to see how long the home has been on the market. You will also be able to see if the house has been on and off the market multiple times recently.
Thing #2: The Age of Major Appliances and Systems
Second, you will want to determine the age of all the major appliances and systems in the home. This includes things such as a washer, dryer, stove, refrigerator, water heater, furnace, and air conditioner.
Knowing how old these significant appliances are will allow you to get a better idea of the type of upgrades and maintenance you will need to put into the home. You can also ask the seller to purchase a home warranty if you are concerned about the appliances' age to help you cover replacing these items in the future.
Thing #3: The Age of the Roof
Third, another thing you are going to want to know the age of is the roof. If the roof is near the end of its lifespan, you will want to take the cost of replacing the roof into consideration when putting in an offer on the home.
Thing #4: Health and Safety Hazards
Fourth, you will want to figure out if the home has any health or safety hazards that you need to be aware of. For example, in an older home, you will want to ask about things such as lead paint. In just about any home, you are going to want to inquire about radon and mold. If you think the house could potentially have any safety hazards, be sure to pay for those specialized tests before agreeing to buy the home. You don't want to invest in a home that will harm your health.
When you find a home you are interested in buying, be sure to find out about the details, such as the age of major appliances and the presence of safety hazards that could cost you if you purchased the home. Also, before writing your offer, find out how long the house has been on the market so that you can write a better offer letter.
To find the right house, ask a Realtor for help.
Share