Buying a home can be one of the most exciting things you ever do. There’s nothing like the anticipation of finding your dream home. That said, don’t allow yourself to miss the forest for the trees. Falling in love with a property often leads to overlooking things that might be major red flags. This list could be much longer, but no one wants to read that much. So keep on scrolling for 5 things you should look for when viewing a property.
1. Location, Location, Location
Stop me if you’ve heard this before. It seems obvious but you’d be surprised how many people overlook what’s arguably the most important aspect of purchasing a home. Pay close attention as you’re driving into the neighborhood. Where’s the nearest grocery store? Are there playgrounds within walking distance? Schools, parks, highway access – these things have a huge impact on your happiness from day-to-day. Before house hunting, take stock of what’s most important to you and your lifestyle and be sure to factor those in when visiting a property.
2. Look With Your Ears
At the end of a long day, there’s little worse than a complete inability to have some peace and quiet. When making the rounds, be sure to take in noises from surrounding areas. Can you hear every single car that drives by? Are the neighbors kids running amok across the street? And if you’re in an apartment or townhome, can you carry on a conversation through the wall with the guy next door – Office Space style? If a quiet, relaxing atmosphere is important to you it’s best to make sure that’s possible from the jump.
3. Storage
This is especially important when down-sizing. Ask yourself as you’re walking through a potential home – Can I fit all my stuff in here? Keep an eye out for a basement, cellar, attic, or utility room. No one wants to move into a new home just to have to throw away a bunch of stuff they paid movers to bring over!
4. Dampness
Moisture in the wrong places can cause loads of issues down the line and not the cheap, easy to remediate kind. Make sure you identify and iron out these problems early on. Ask your real estate agent to help keep an eye out for anything concerning. If he/she is worth their salt there’s a chance you can have these issues addressed on someone else’s dime.
5. Is This Your Forever Home?
The most important and contributing factor of all, is making sure you ask yourself the question; “Can I see myself living here?” If you’re having doubts and you aren’t sure….Move onto the next viewing. Trust me, when you know…you know. All too often folks, especially ones who’ve been looking for awhile, pull the trigger on something just because they’re tired of looking and don’t want to miss out. Don’t be that person. This is a big deal and sometimes it takes longer than is preferable. But finding your dream home is worth it – and I’m here to help.
If you find these tips helpful please check out my other blog articles for totally biased real estate insights. If you’ve got more specific questions or needs, don’t hesitate to give me a shout. Thank you for taking the time to visit my site and learn a little more about the 5 things you should look for when viewing a property!
