Sound Home Buying Tips

Buying a home can be exciting, but it can also present certain challenges and frustrations. To keep the process as hassle free as possible when buying a home, consider these tips:

· Make a list. Before you begin to look for a home, make a list of all of the features you’d like to have – then determine which items are absolute must-haves, and which items would be nice to have. Some things to consider are the style of the home (for instance, condo, duplex, rancher, bi-level, or two-story home) numbers of bedrooms and bathrooms, fireplaces, size of the yard, and whether you’d like a pool or garage. Be specific, but know which areas you’re willing to compromise on. Give a copy of the list to your real estate agent to help her find your ideal home.

· Get visual. Hiring a home inspector is a good idea once your offer is accepted. But you can save yourself the cost of an inspection by looking for obvious flaws and defects that might keep you from making an offer in the first place.

Obvious things to look for are old, worn roofs, damp basements, large cracks in the foundation, and horizontal cracks in interior walls (hairline vertical cracks can occur in plaster walls as a result of the home settling, and usually do not indicate a problem. Look for water satins on ceilings and around windows, too.

· Grab your small blade screwdriver. While you’re at it, grab a flashlight, too. Head for the basement and gently poke the exposed areas of the sill plate, the wooden boards that rest on top of the concrete or brick basement walls. If they’re soft, it likely indicates rot due to water seepage or termite infestation. Sill plates are not visible in finished basements.

· Ask for any disclosures.

If the home has been previously inspected by another buyer, problems may have been uncovered which most state laws require the seller to disclose to future buyers. In areas where there are termites, ask if the home has a current and active warranty, and when the last inspection was performed.

· Get the lay of the land, Homes built in low-lying areas or in hilly areas may be in for some serious flooding during heavy rains.

Don’t get overwhelmed when buying a home. It’s an exciting time that should be enjoyed, not dreaded. Take your time and use these home buying tips to make the experience relaxing, enjoyable, and successful.