Smart House Hunting

 

Serious house hunting can leave you worn out and confused at the end of the day. It is hard to remember which house had the great back yard and kitchen and which one you ruled out because of inadequate storage space. Some of the houses you visited looked familiar--like maybe you had seen them before. How can you conserve energy and keep it all straight?

The first step is to find a real estate agent who knows the area well and will only show you homes that meet your criteria. Next you should acquire a small note pad in order to keep a record of the homes you visit. Note the address, style and exterior color, as well as something distinctive about the house that will trigger your memory. Make a special note if a house has real possibilities. Jot down important pluses and minuses of each property and share this information with your real estate agent. This will help you to narrow down the houses so that you can focus on your favorites.

Buying New or Buying Old

New homes typically have a higher sales price than comparable existing homes, and buyers are usually willing to spend more on a new home because of lower maintenance costs. Builders' warranties on new homes, when combined with a new roof, appliances, and major systems, usually make major repairs unnecessary and help to counter a slower initial rate of appreciation.

Census Bureau Housing Surveys suggests that operating costs are lowest for brand new homes and slightly higher for relatively new existing homes. Operating costs per square foot of living space are consistently higher for progressively older existing homes. Utility costs represent the largest factor in operating costs. Energy consumption per square foot depends on the size of the home, the insulation and quality of the windows, air leakage and the efficiency of the furnace.

New homes require fewer expenditures for routine maintenance. The cost of maintenance first increases with age, then declines, so you will generally spend less maintaining a home built before 1960 than for a home built between 1970 and 1975.

A Realistic Evaluation

Your real estate agent's job is to find you the perfect home, in the right location, with all the amenities you want--and at the right price. It is the home inspector's job to find any skeletons in the closet -- or in the plumbing, wiring, roof, basement and beams.

The inspector won't pass or fail a home based on what he or she finds, but will go over the house thoroughly to help you understand the condition of the property you are buying. If there are any serious problems, your inspector can give you a realistic idea of how much the repairs will cost. If there are material defects that were not reflected in the asking price, you will have the opportunity to re-open negotiations with your sellers before you commit to the purchase. A good inspector will also explain the operation of the basic emergency systems such as the main water cut off valve and the circuit breaker box, and will go over items that will need routine maintenance.

If you are buying a house, we recommend that you make a professional home inspector part of your home purchase team.

Do these tips help?

I've learned these tips through years of experience as a top real estate agent. But I know that YOUR situation might be different. That's why I'm here. 

It's my job to personally advise homebuyers and sellers. Call me for more information at 201-924-6451.

 

Contact Me

 

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