1) Location
The location is king when buying a new or older home. You can live with minor flaws because you can always paint over something or change an appearance. You can’t pick up your home and move it to a better location. When buying a home your main goal is to find the best location and keeping within your budget. This will alleviate stress and save you some frustration.The old real estate adage is true – location, location, location!
2) A house with a view
Photo: Four Season Sotheby’s Realty
If you’re thinking about purchasing a home on a hill you will want to see if it has a view. Does the home offer your neighbors a front row seat into your window?If it offers a view but is facing the highway, you need to take that into account on how that will affect your ability to sell at a later date.If your home offers a front row seat of your living room window that might not only affect you when you’re living in the home but when you try to sell, most buyers will notice this negative aspect. They might be worried about safety as well since if shades are not closed anyone can tell if you could be home.
3) How is the neighborhood?
It is always a good idea to drive or walk around the neighborhood of your new prospective home. Don’t just look around during the day, but visit the location at night or on the weekend. Ask yourself how you feel while walking or driving around the neighborhood. Do you feel safe? How do the surrounding homes look? Are there many properties on the market? You want to feel safe and comfortable in the neighborhood you’re thinking about living in. If your potential home is surrounded by tired or dilapidated homes that will hurt you down the line. If the homes are well maintained, everyone wins in the end.
4 Does the home have curbside appeal?
What were your first thoughts of the property when you drove up? Were you excited to walk inside? You want a home that offers good curbside appeal. Make sure everything is put in its place. Make sure paint isn’t chipped, clutter is kept to a minimum, and flowers or bushes are all cut and well maintained.Check the driveway to ensure that the pavement is not cracked or potholed. If there is a garage see how the owner has kept it.Are there water marks or leaks?The same thing applies for the basement.That is a big money item if the basement floods and is important to find out before a flood or snowstorm.
5) Size and floor plan
How large are the rooms? Do you love the floor plan when you walk through the home? Some folks call this the flow of the home. You want to buy a home that you can use all of the space. The worst thing you can do is buy a four bedroom home and you can’t furnish and decorate the space well. If a one bedroom plus or two bedrooms you can furnish and decorate then buy that.If you’re thinking about starting a family, buy a home with that in mind.Keep in mind when you buy a larger home your property taxes will be higher, your heating and cooling costs will be higher as well.
6) Time to move on
Remember when you’re looking to buy there will be a day you will be selling, and you want a home that offers the best value for what you can afford. You want to make sure you’re not stuck with the home and it is not unsellable. I know plenty of people who bought a giant home and didn’t think about all the other factors and found that was the reason why their home wasn’t selling.
7) The stairs to nowhere
Are there a lot of stairs in the home? If your unit has a ton of stairs you might not mind, but when you go to sell your perspective buyers might not like it. Also, if your buyer is older, they will most likely look at a ton of stairs as a negative. If there is a deck make sure that the railings are well built as this could be a hazard if you plan to entertain outside.
If you need help in buying a home or your looking at selling your home. Please feel to contact me.and don’t forget to check out pageinnisrealestate.com where you can find the home of your dreams and get updates and just stay in the know.
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