Tips for Buying a House
So you’re in the market to buy…
Real estate is a passion of mine. And while I’ve bought and sold multiple homes; I’ve also made many mistakes. Don’t get me wrong though, I have also had some nice wins. Real estate is a great investment but also can be risky if you go in eyes wide shut. Here are my top 8 tips to keep in mind before you buy.
Will the windows need to be replaced? New windows can cost upward of $10,000-15,000. Do the windows have lead-based paint? Do the windows close and open properly?
How much are the additional cost, property taxes, utilities, homeowner’s insurance, HOA fees and closing cost? A lot of people don’t think beyond their mortgage payment. All of these additional fees can really add up and make you way above the budget you planned to stick to.
What are the quality of the trees? Can any trees fall on your house? Do any need to be cut down or maintained? If looking in the fall or winter months will the leaves block your view or sunlight? Also the maintenance and expense of cleaning the leaves come fall.
Does the house have any strange smells? Do you smell “mold” or damp smells? Do you smell any intense food, pet or cigarette smell? Any major smell can be costly to remove and might never go away. Be careful with a house that has any strong odors.
Does the ground slope away from the house? Does the house sit at the bottom or the top of a hill? What is the condition of the grading around your house? Homes with heavy grading can flood in heavy rains or storms.
What are the neighbors like? I have heard horror stories about having bad neighbors that can make your day to day life very hard. Did you meet the neighbors? Are these people you could live next door to? Do they have a bad reputation in the neighborhood? If you want to do any renovations, need permits they can prevent those things from happening.
Are there sidewalks in your neighborhood? This is a great feature a lot of neighborhoods have left out. If you have kids, is there a place for them to ride bikes or for you to take a jog safely?
Do you see any signs of pests? Making sure you don’t see any rats, mice, rodents, ants or other insects or pests. This can be another added expense because you will have to have a pest control plan annually. Make sure to check behind the fridge and inside the cabinets where they usually go.
Hope these were some helpful tips to avoid unforeseen cost to your ever important investment- your home! Let me know in the comments if you have any additional tips to share.
PS: Head over to my Instagram to check out a fun video filled with tips and tricks from the expert- national ranked 23rd in the country for real estate-Nancy Taylor Bubes!
