Buying a home doesn’t have to be a tedious and drawn out process if the home buyer is prepared and knows the particulars of what they are looking for in a potential home. A realtor can provide invaluable help in finding the right home for the right price, but the home buyer needs to be motivated and aware of the type of home they are looking to purchase.
A house hunting checklist can be an invaluable tool for a potential home buyer, to help keep track of the advantages and disadvantages of each home they are thinking of potentially purchasing. This checklist should include basic information, such as location of home, price, annual property taxes, mortgage terms and a rough estimate of annual maintenance and upkeep fees.
Here are a few more tips for a house hunting checklist.
First, the home buyer should jot down impressions regarding the exterior of the home, noting lot size, shape, position of home on the lot, and the condition of the lawn and whether the yard has a fence. These may seem like minor details, but can inevitably lean a home buyer to one house over another.
The home buyer should also take a good look at the roof of the house, and note it’s general condition, as if the roof appears in disrepair, this may be an additional cost the home buyer isn’t interesting in dealing with.
Third, the home buyer should also have a thorough look into the interior of the house. The home buyer should check windows, ensuring they open and close easily and also note the condition of doors.
The kitchen, perhaps the most important room in any home, should be a key note in the house hunting checklist. Here, the home buyer should focus on the condition of appliances, cupboard space, counters, flooring, lighting and outlets. With regards to bedrooms, the home buyer should obviously make note of the size of the bedrooms, closet space and adjoining bathrooms, if any.
The last area to note for the home buyer is the basement. The home buyer should check to see if the basement is finished or unfinished, and whether there is adequate room to move about. The home buyer should also check for a utility area and the placement of the washer and dryer. On a side note, with regards to the washer and dryer and other household appliances, the home buyer should inquiry as to whether some or all are being sold with the house as well. If so, that is definitely an added bonus, and should be noted on the house hunting checklist.
There are other important notes that the home owner should be aware of, such as the type of heating, water service, plumbing, etc. With a detailed enough checklist, the home buyer can be assured that they will be getting exactly what they are looking for when purchasing the home of their dreams.
