Are you planning to buy a home?

Congratulations, it’s an exciting time in anyone’s life and we’re sure you can’t wait to start looking at houses!

Before you do, you might be wondering how you know when a house is “the one”.  Here are some important things to consider!

Does the house have enough space?

There are two primary considerations when it comes to determining if a house has enough space for you and your family:

1. Are there enough bedrooms for your current, or planned, family?
2. Are the rooms large enough to accommodate your existing, or desired, furniture and personal items?

While the first question is easier to answer, the second question can be a bit more difficult.  As it can be difficult to judge by eye, we always recommend bringing a tape measure with you to see how well your furniture or personal items will fit in a space, particularly if you’re serious about the home.

As you are likely to spend several years in your home, it’s always a good idea to try to plan for the future as much as possible.  For instance, if your children share a bedroom now, but that may not be feasible in the next couple of years, it may make sense to start planning for that future expansion during the home buying process.

Does the house have important features?

What is on your “must have” list?  Is it a large kitchen?  A master suite?  A bonus room or home office?  A pool?  Before you start looking at houses, it’s a great idea to sit down and compile a list of things that would be nice to have and things that are necessary or “must haves”.  This allows you to clearly communicate your needs and desires to your real estate agent so that they can help find the perfect home for you and it allows you to narrow down your list of homes to a select few that will better suit your needs and lifestyle.

Not all homes are going to be the right fit, but with some planning, and a clear understanding of what features you need, it can be much easier to find that perfect house.

Is the house in the right location?

We’re sure that you’ve heard the saying “location, location, location” – well it’s true!  Location can make a huge difference in everything from the education of your children to the future rate of appreciation of your home, so it definitely makes sense to consider the location of the home and its proximity to work, school, and conveniences, during the home buying process.

Here are a few common considerations when it comes to location:

1. What school system is the house located in and is it a good school district?
2. How far is the house from school / work?
3. What is the neighborhood like?
4. What are the taxes like?
5. Is the house close to conveniences like stores and shopping?

Your real estate agent will be able to help you with resources to learn more about the neighborhood and school district, but it’s always a good idea to consider everything when buying a home so that you know it’s the right house for you.

What repairs or upgrades would you make?

Most houses require some work to customize the home to your unique tastes, but the amount of work necessary is always a consideration.  Do the bathrooms need to be updated?  Do you want to redo the landscaping?  While the house has the potential to be amazing, are these projects things that you’re willing to tackle?

Here are two tips when considering repairs or upgrades that may be needed:

1. Don’t get overwhelmed. No house is perfect, so there will always be something you’ll want to do to customize it to your style and tastes.  Try to think logically about the work necessary and whether or not it’s really that big of a deal.  Even issues like Mold and Radon, which can intimidate home buyers, are able to be effectively resolved by trained professionals, making them a small bump in the road to your dream home.
2. Keep in mind that not all projects need to be completed right away. We always suggest breaking these projects up into two lists, projects that you’ll want to complete before or shortly after you move in, and projects that you may want to tackle in a year or two.  Not only does this help put these projects in perspective a bit better, but it makes the whole process a lot less intimidating.
3. Get advice from experts. If your project list includes specialized services like Mold Remediation, Radon Mitigation, Electrical, or Excavation (to name a few), consult with experts in those trades for estimates and recommendations.  Often what seems like a major project to you, isn’t…  So speaking with an expert can help you better understand the scope of work necessary and make it easier for you to make decisions about the house.

If you love the house, and the location is great, a few repairs or upgrades to make it your own shouldn’t be that daunting.  Just imagine having the opportunity to customize the house to your tastes and style!

We hope these tips help you make the most of your home walkthrough and find the perfect house for you!

As always, if your home inspector finds issues such as high Radon levels, Mold growth, or Water Damage, we’re here to help address those issues for you!  Please don’t hesitate to Contact Your Local Disaster Blaster.  We’re always happy to help!

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