Buying a new home is definitely one of the most important decisions to make. Not only will this property be a home base for you and your family, but it will undoubtedly impact your quality of life. For that reason, knowing some useful tips on how to find a home that will match your needs and budget is of essential importance to accelerate the whole process and help you make the right decision, too. Here is a quick guide on what to pay attention to when house hunting!
The First Step of Facilitating Your House Hunt is Knowing What You Need
When you’re about to start searching for a new home, don’t forget to consider all the needs of your family. This is usually related to the size of the house, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the layout plan, amenities, and location. Also, some other factors, like having a pet, can influence the list of your needs. For instance, if you’re moving with a pet, having a yard or being close to some green areas should definitely be taken into consideration when choosing the property.
Nevertheless, when choosing a property to buy, let the location be the focal point since that is the only thing you cannot change about the house. Make sure to take into consideration the public transportation options, vicinity to good schools, daycare, amenities, supermarkets, parks, and all other details you find important for your lifestyle.
The Easiest and Quickest Way to Find a New Home Is to Hire a Reliable Real Estate Agent
Just like a moving company will make the move itself easier, a real estate agent will help you pick the right place. There are thousands of houses posted for sale on the internet, so deciding to go for one can seem impossible. Having a real estate agent by your side to narrow the search and show you the properties whose amenities and location perfectly match your needs will make the whole process significantly easier and faster. Also, don’t forget that a real estate agent is obliged by law to draw your attention if the property needs some major renovation or repairs, like the roof, foundation, or similar.
Always Have a Checklist With You When Inspecting a Home
The real estate agent can help you when searching for a perfect home, but don’t forget to have a checklist by your side when inspecting each property since too many different pieces of information can easily mix up in your mind and lead you to a wrong decision. Here is the list of all the questions you should ask when visiting a house that should be considered as major factors when buying a home:
- What furniture pieces or appliances are included in the sale price? This is very important to define because it can affect your budget, so ask if the kitchen appliances go with the house or if you should buy new ones.
- For how long have previous owners lived in this property? This answer can help you spot if something is wrong with the building itself – like some issues incredibly expensive to fix, bad neighbors, or anything similar. The longer they lived, the better the chances that everything is good, and that their decision to sell the place is driven by a different motive.
- How long has the house been on the market? If the property has been on the market for some longer time, this is usually a clear sign you can give a lower offer and get the property for less money, so don’t forget to ask this question!
- Have the owners done some major repairs on the property? This is also essential to know because it can indicate in what condition the property is and how well it has been maintained.
- What are the average utility bills and maintenance costs? Knowing how much money you will need to maintain the property and how much you will be paying for the utility bills is of tremendous importance when deciding to buy a home because all these details have to match your budget. If the bills exceed your financial possibilities, you should definitely continue your search for a perfect home.
- What is the earliest date you can move in? Another essential detail when organizing the relocation is to know the dates so you can plan the whole process.
What Details Should You Check Before Agreeing on Buying a Home?
Home inspections are essential to perform before agreeing to buy a house. Although it is an additional cost, hiring a professional home inspector to check the property for you and provide you with a detailed report can save you thousands of dollars.
The report will entail all the potential issues with:
- Foundation,
- Flooring,
- Roof,
- Plumbing or electrical system,
- Appliances,
- Fireplace,
- HVAC system,
- Interior and exterior generally.
If you demand it, they can even make a check for the termites, asbestos, mold, or radon, which is usually charged extra, but crucially important to know before you buy the property and start with renovations.
Are You Ready to Find and Move to Your Dream Home?
Now that you have caught a glimpse of all the details to take into consideration before signing the contract, we are sure that the whole relocation process will be much easier and go much more quickly than you expected. No matter if you’re moving locally, interstate, or you’re ready for international moving, make sure to hire a reliable company and set all the dates way in advance in order to avoid any stress related to relocation and organize everything seamlessly!
February 4, 2022