Buying a new home is exciting, but it can also be a little scary. When you are at the store buying a new pair of pants or a shirt you check it out to make sure there are no rips, tears, or stains. You also go to the dressing room to make sure it fits and looks good on you. Well you need to do the same thing when buying a home. You need to look at the home thoroughly to see what condition it is in; however unlike clothing you can’t see everything.
Tip 1 – Make sure you get a home inspection done before purchasing a new home by a licensed professional who knows what to look for. They will check out the roof, foundation, plumbing, electrical, and the heating systems. There could be some hidden problems that will be quite costly, so it is best to know this ahead of time.
Tip 2 – Make sure the home is worth what you are paying for it? If you comparison shop for food or clothing then you know what I am talking about. There could be the same house 2 streets over in better shape at a lower price. So do some looking around. Also be sure to get an appraisal, so you will know exactly what the home is really worth.
If you are getting a mortgage, they will do an appraisal prior to giving you a loan.
Tip 3 – Check out the neighborhood. If you have a family you may not want to live in a place where there are a lot of young people who have loud parties. So if you drive the neighborhood on a weekday and a weekend evening you get a feel for what kind of neighbors you will have.
Tip 4 – Check on garbage pick up. In many cities you have to call a service to set up trash removal services and some of them you will have to pay in advance.
Tip 5 – Schools, it is good to know where the schools are located and if there is bus service.
Tip 6 – If you call the local utility company you can get a general idea of what your monthly costs will be. This is especially important if you are on a budget, you can also sign up for their monthly budget system so your bill will be the same every month.
Tip7 – Does your home purchase come with a warranty? Many sellers will take out a warranty prior to selling their home. This works like insurance, so if something does break; you won’t have to pay the whole bill.
Tip 8 – Homeowners insurance, this is a must have, so shop around to get the best deal and coverage. If your new neighborhood has any special problems such as flooding, make sure you are covered.
Tip 9 – Get a security system. Unfortunately there is no such thing as a crime free city. Bad stuff can happen anywhere and protecting your family’s safety is very important.
Tip 10 – When you know what day you want to move, set up your truck rental or moving company as early as possible. So everything will go smoothly.