House-Choosing Checklist

Hire an inspector. “A lot of buyers sort of blow it off,” Beneke says. “It’s just one of those expenses they have to have to satisfy their lender. But in reality, a good inspection can uncover reasons you absolutely should not buy that house [such as structural problems with foundation]. Secondarily, a good inspection can tell you what the major problems are behind the walls. Most homebuyers look at what they can see. An inspector’s job is to look at what they can’t see—condition of the roof, if there is insulation, etc.” Clarify that your contract to buy the house is contingent on a satisfactory inspection, then view the inspector’s report as an opportunity to go back and renegotiate the price. Look up when scouting out a new home. You may find water damage, like the spot on this ceiling. Ask a home inspector to determine if the problem has been repaired. Look up. “People tend to look at floors and walls, but it doesn’t occur to buyers very often to look up at the ceiling,” Rogers says. The ceiling can tell you whether the home has had water damage, which isn’t necessarily a deal-killer but is another thing for the inspector to check. Ask the current owners for a year’s worth of utility bills. “That’s the easiest way to check the energy use of the house—how much it costs to heat in the winter and cool in the summer,” Rogers says. “There’s a price for each buyer at which a less energy-efficient house may be worth it, especially if you can do things to make it more energy-efficient.” Think long-term. “Americans move, on average, every six years, but look with an eye toward staying in the house for 15,” Rogers recommends. “The kids are little now, so you may need a playroom. But where will you put them as they grow up so you won’t hear their stereos? If you’re older, think about stairs and the ways the house can be adapted if you get a little less mobile.” Size and Storage Is the house big enough for the unexpected? If you’re a couple with one child, you may think all you need is a two-bedroom house. But you may decide to have another child or discover you need one of those bedrooms for a home office. Buy with the anticipation of family growth. Will your furniture fit? “If the house looks really immaculate, make sure all the furniture is there,” Rogers says. The owners may have put a desk or entertainment center in storage, leaving you to discover when you move in that the home doesn’t have as much room as you thought.

...Continued - Page 2 of 4 ( 1 2 3 4 )
< Previous Page | Next Page >