Buying a home is no easy feat, whether it is your first rodeo or hundredth, there's no denying all those feelings that tend to bubble up during such a crazy awesome time! Finding a great Realtor will help to ease the stress in finding houses, but what to look for once you're inside is so very important! Don't you worry, Iv'e got an arsenal here of the major tips I give my clients when they are unsure how to know if a home is worth throwing money at! I will let you keep all of that excitement while I crank down those stress levels a bit and give you Your Ultimate Guide to House Shopping!
1. Check out the Land
Upon first viewing the property, take a lap around the property line to get an idea of the lot size. Whether or not you have to do more digging to find out how much property you'll be investing in exactly, it is important to know what exactly is for sale. While viewing property lines, check for dead trees, grass and bushes, along with fencing. These could cost you a pretty penny down the road! Spray painted hedges are a huge red flag!
2. Ownership Turnover
How many times has this listing been on the market in the past decade? If several is the answer, then I would raise my brow a tad. High home turnover doesn't always mean bad news, but it is always worth investigating when it comes to your future home. You may not get exact answers, but usually the inspection will help you out with that.
3. Roof Responsible
You don't have to be an expert to spot major roof issues. Look for a sunk or dipped roof, missing shingles, holes, cracks in the ceiling paint, and climb up into the attic if you dare! Really though, roof issues are a huge pain in the wallet! You could be looking at thousands of dollars in repairs if you don't catch roof issues.
4. Structural vs. Cosmetic
Try not to get too caught up in the decor or the color of the walls and flooring in each room. It can be tough walking into a home trying to envision a blank slate when there is neon green paint and a peacock chandelier, BUT if you can try to train your brain to look at the bare bones of each house you see, you will not only open your eyes to possibilities, but could also find infrastructure issues hiding behind all that distraction. Bring a marble with you and place it in the middle of a room, if it rolls to one side or the other or the floor bounces when you walk, chances are there could be foundation issues, or floorboard damage. Keep your eyes out for cracks in the walls, drafts of cold air, or if the windows are single or double pane. Does the temperature feel warm or too cold? Insulation, especially in the Pacific Northwest, is a must-have with our hot summers and freezing winters. Are there any exposed wires, or cracks in the foundation? If you see any new structural work done, ask who did the job, and if you want to see that it was done up to code ask for a 3R report. Put your inspector hat on and save yourself some trouble!
5. Location & Lifestyle
You always need to be thinking is this location practical for my day to day lifestyle? You need to consider the work commute, stores you frequent, friends and family near by... You just always need to have your priorities surrounding location lingering in your thoughts, because no matter how beautiful it is, practicality always tends to come out on top. You also need to consider resale value for the location you're looking into. Do your research, and find neighborhoods you resign best with, up and coming areas, or secluded neighborhoods with lots of privacy don't stay on the market long. Your lifestyle should play another big role in your decision making. Have clear ideas on the layout and functionality you're wanting your future home to have. The more thought you put into this, the easier it will be making a final decision, and the less you'll have to renovate!
6. Beware!
There are a couple red flags that should go off in your head if you come across these in open houses, or showings. Room fresheners or strong chemical cleaner scents in a room, and/or music playing in a specific area or room should be noted. This could very well be the agent or owner just bringing in good comfortable vibes to the home. But in a lot of cases, the room spray or candle could be hiding a mold issue, animal smell, gas, cigarettes, etc. Your nose is a huge asset here! Soft background music is one thing, but it can be pretty obvious if someone wants to hide neighborhood noise, a train nearby, a creaky room, or loud plumbing. Another major red flag comes with any incentive to waive an inspection. You can almost guarantee there is an issue trying to be hid. As a buyer you should always get the home inspected, this is your chance to have issues found immediately and get them figured out or come to some agreement before closing. You waive that, and you're stuck with potential issues.
7. Investigate!
Ive got a final list here of things you should put your detective hat on and find out before closing, to help avoid unexpected costs and add some peace of mind.
Do the toilets, faucets, and shoer/tub work properly with sufficient pressure and leak free?
Do you spot any mold under the sink, near bathtubs or toilet? Everything look dry?
Are the appliances in good working condition?
All the lights work?
Open windows, and check door tracks for damage.
Water softener?
Septic? Well? Get the water tested and see when septic was pumped last.
How is the flooring and surface quality?
Do you need to worry about led based paint?
Garage doors work?
Furnace in good working condition?
CC&Rs? HOA fee?
I hope this detailed guide empowers you and helps with your home buying journey! Remember, you're not alone! Your Realtor has a ton of resources to help make this process as seamless and stress free as possible.