Buying a Home—It’s About More Than Features

We all love the features and amenities when buying a new home, but we must remember there’s more to a property than just the hard wood floors, chef’s kitchen, and the spa like bathrooms. Here are some additional items to consider before buying a home.

Will it be loud?

That one peaceful street you drove by on a Sunday heading to an open house could possibly turn into a not so peaceful street during the week. Or even the train tracks nearby could prompt hearing frequent train horns all throughout the night. You should always try to visit the home at different times on different days to get the knowledge of what the house is like for yourself. You could also consider asking the current neighbors what it is like throughout the day, week, and weekends.

How old is that really expensive thing to replace?

When going over the seller’s disclosure you may notice that there are some appliances and systems that have some major known issues, but the seller’s disclosure won’t tell you that the HVAC or the roof is needing to be replaced soon. It’s best to know the age of certain appliances so it can help you estimate when they are needing to be replaced. Getting an inspection of the home will give you more information about whether certain systems are deficient, but you shouldn’t always count on an inspection to reveal how much life is left in certain components.

Can I do it My way?

The homeowner’s association can benefit property owners the only downfall is that they come with rules and regulations that must be followed. You should always make sure to review any documents received from an HOA before you commit to the purchase. Just like when living in the city there are codes and laws that restrict what you can and can’t do with your property. No one wants to find out after they close on the property, they can’t paint there house a different, bright, color or even park their boat trailer in the driveway.

Will the view change?

The view from a home whether it be hills, a lake, or even the city skyline can really be the make or break of selling the home. Are you sure the view will remain the same? Always check with the builder if you plan on buying a home in a master planned community to see if there are plans to build something that may block the view. You can also look at the zoning of the area to have a better understanding of whether the view may be jeopardized or not. Also keep in mind that the development plans and the zoning of the area could possibly change in the future.

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