I saw this the other day and thought it was worth re-posting. It asks some good questions…
By Andrew Hill @ www.newhomesource.com
Whether you plan on buying used, new, or even building, there are a number of things you need to check for in your new home. As you inspect your new home, keep in mind these two factors: does it meet my needs, not my wants & how is the quality?
Step one of your house hunting should be determining your needs and how much you can afford. Once you determine this, the next piece of the puzzle is determining how you want to spend your allotment. How many beds do you need? How big does the living room need to be? Sit down and determine the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and an estimated amount of square feet you are considering, as well as any specific features you’d like, before stepping inside a house. Consider this your “must-have” list and hold yourself to looking only at homes within that range.
While touring homes, you should know be aware of yourself and know where the “heart” of your home will be. Is it the kitchen? The living room? Or even the patio? Wherever you plan on spending the most time, make sure it meets your requirements. For example, if a house with the perfect living space is on your “must-have” list, then don’t settle for a house with a fantastic kitchen if you can’t stand the living room. You’ll regret this decision very shortly. Home buying is very instinctual and when you find the home that meets your “must-haves” you must to treat it as if it won’t be there tomorrow- there’s a good chance it might not be!
Once you’ve narrowed down your choices to a few houses that meet your standards, you need to look at quality. This is a very effective way of weeding out houses if you are having trouble picking between two or three. Begin by inspecting house fixtures. Are the bath areas fitted with quality fixtures? Is your water heater electric or gas (gas being the much more efficient choice)? How is the pressure of the faucet and toilet? These are all questions you need to be asking yourself during the walk through. Make sure to pay attention to the quality of heating and insulation, as well as the attention to detail on hardware, paint, etc. The quality of exterior workmanship should also be a priority. When inspecting the outside, make sure to look at the state of the roof and drainage systems. You want to be sure that all of the runoff is directed away from your home.
As you begin your search for the perfect home just keep in mind needs & quality and the rest will fall into place.
