Finding a home is a challenge, whether you are a young family pushing the budget, or a mature family looking for a bigger house or an old couple looking for something low maintenance. You must factor in a host of factors as this is a big purchase, and one small mistake can end up costing you a sizeable hole in your savings. Here are 10 things to see before looking for houses for sale near me –
1. Your Family Needs
The type of house you purchase will depend largely on the size of your family. How many members are there? How many will live for a long time and how many may move out. If you have guests coming regularly then you will need an extra room and lot of space for entertaining. Family homes need big open kitchen floor plans where everyone can gather for shared meals or simple family times. Of course, you must be clear on how many appliances you will need, whether you need lot of counter space, sinks and storage or if a regular kitchen will suffice. If you are a small family not into a lot of cooking beyond the rudimentary needs, then a simple kitchen will also suffice. The number of bathrooms is another crucial factor as the larger the family size, it is better to have multiple bathrooms for hygiene and convenience.
2. Basic Infrastructure
Basic infrastructure is also the most crucial aspect of the house, that is, its roof, basement, the walls, attics, and fixtures. Although most sellers get the home inspection done before selling it, you can also have an independent, certified home inspector look over the house before putting in the final offer. If some issues are revealed, based on the gravity and how much you are willing to bear in repair costs, you can negotiate a better deal with the seller and buy the house.
3. HVAC Condition
Appliances are expensive to purchase, so check the age and condition of each appliance. Pay attention to whether it is a gas stove or electric stove, do they have all the essential appliances that you require on a regular basis, is there room to accommodate any new appliance that you may want to add. The washer, dryer, water heater and water softener, furnace or boiler, humidifier and air conditioner must be thoroughly inspected. Again, if you have made up your mind about the house, you can have a home inspector to check these things and give and assessment of replacement costs in case you are willing to factor it in.
4.Connectivity And Accessibility
You may search for the best place to buy a house in your neighborhood, but unless it has good connectivity to the important places such as schools, recreation centres, hospitals, and easy access to important areas such as shopping squares then even the locality or house itself will not be useful. So, when you start the search for “houses for sale near me”, make sure to mention the important locations where you want convenient access to.
5. Social Infrastructure
Are there families of similar socioeconomic backgrounds? Will your kids find enough neigborhood friends? Is it a safe neighborhood? These are just some of the basic questions one must get positive answers to.
6. Construction Quality
The construction quality can be assessed by the house inspector when they do a thorough check and let you know how the house will age and how much you will have to spend on the maintenance. Resale value of the house will depend on the construction quality so you should ensure that the house will endure for a long time. if you are buying a new house then you may not have to worry too much about the construction quality, but with older houses you must get an estimate of how much repair must be done.
Home is a sentimental idea for most of us, but it is also a prudent investment and sizeable debt unless managed properly. If you get the basics correct when visiting the best place to buy a house, then your family can enjoy the personal space you have created for yourself for years with simple maintenance.
