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A Basic Homebuyer’s Checklist
If you are beginning to look for a home to buy, you will have many things to consider. Not only are you going to need to find a home in the town or region of your choice, but you will also have to make certain the home is really worth its asking price, is in the condition the owner and realtor state, and that your realestateinfotips.com/before-you-buy/budget'>budget will be able to maintain it and pay the mortgage. It is helpful to have a very basic “to do” list in mind when looking at homes and beginning to make plans for purchasing one that has caught your attention.
The primary issues to consider before you buy or even going to view a home that seems interesting include:
- The age of the home – remember that homes built before the 1970s are open to lead contamination, unsuitable plumbing, the presence of asbestos and a host of other problems. While older homes can often be rock-solid, it doesn’t hurt to consider that they may also require extensive investment.
- What utilities are required – some homes are run purely on electricity and others require the owner to maintain accounts with oil, gas and electric companies. Consider the possible budgetary issues of these factors.
- Lot size – you should all ready know the size of the home, now place that into a full perspective by considering the size of the lot on which it is standing. Do you want a lot of yard maintenance? Will it allow for enough privacy? These can make for added expense and time consumption. It will also indicate if there is adequate parking or if you are going to have to struggle with street parking issues.
- Is it in a flood zone? Remember that you are going to have to realestateinfotips.com/property-management/insurance'>insure your home, and if it is in a flood zone your mortgage lender is going to demand flood insurance. This can knock a budget way off track, so find out before viewing the home.
- How old is the roof? A new roof can be a wildly expensive issue, so ask about the age of the roof before you take the time to look at the house.
Once you have satisfactory answers to these questions, you should schedule a formal viewing of the home. If it is something you are really interested in, the next step is to make arrangements for a private, formal home inspection. Though they can often cost up to one thousand dollars, they are a huge asset in the quest for a good home buying experience.