Don’t fall into this trap when buying a house. Avoid the mistake of relying on your feelings by using a home buyer checklist to preview all homes.
Everybody knows that buying a house is an emotional decision and why shouldn’t it be? Most buyers usually go through the full range of emotional experiences, from one extreme to another.
Admittedly, one day a home buyer may feel depressed and anxious wondering if they will ever find the right house, at the right price, in the right location.
Another day they may suddenly feel exhilarated discovering the house of their dreams and make a sudden decision without adequately inspecting their future home.
Because buying a house can certainly be emotional it is important that a buyer be armed with a practical checklist. Relying alone on your gut feeling can often be misleading. After all, being prepared before you preview all homes with your Realtor will help keep your search for the perfect house on track.
Accordingly, what should a viewing checklist look like?
Begin your home buyer checklist by writing down the minimum requirements you expect in a new home. You can also add some of the wish list items you would like to have but are not absolute necessities.
After listing your basic necessities and your wish list items, ask yourself the following questions. By asking these questions you can more easily zero in on whether a certain house meets your expectations.
1. Is there anything that needs repair? Write down concerns and talk them over with your real estate agent.
2. Will the size of the house be sufficient in the years to come also? For example, if you are planning on having children will there be enough space. Another example could be a parent or family member living with you in the future. Try to anticipate your future needs.
3. Are the number of bedrooms and bathrooms sufficient? Be sure you think about other uses for bedrooms such as a home office. If you intend to start a home based business or your employer allows you to work from home you may need that extra bedroom.
4. Is this house structurally sound? Be on the look out for red flags indicating physical problems. Doors not shutting well, windows that don’t slide open or standing water around the foundation are examples. It is recommended for every home buyer to shop safe and buy smart by hiring a home inspector.
5. Are the plumbing, heating and electrical systems in working order? As you walk through each house take note of any signs of leaky faucets, plumbing leaks under sinks or in laundry facilities. Check light switches and outlets. Find out if heating and air conditioning systems are working properly.
6. Ask what appliances are included with the house and check to see if all are in working order.
7. Is the yard big enough? Or in some cases is the yard small enough? Expansive or diminutive, just make sure the size suits you.
8. Will your current furniture fit in the new space? If the house is smaller, will you need to store or sell some of your current furnishings? If the rooms are larger, you may have additional expenses in order to furnish them adequately. Jot down your thoughts.
9. Will there be enough storage space? Take note of cabinet space, number of closets, and other additional areas that can be used for storage. Also be sure to discuss lack of storage and how you will manage if you buy this home.
Always bring along these three things, a tape measure, flash light, and note pad.
For ease of comparison, keep an individual home buyer checklist for each house you walk through and create a method to score each item on the list. You may give certain items higher values than others or you can give them all an equal value. Regardless, be consistent so that after you have visited several houses you can go back and analyze the scores.
Use your home buyer checklist to discuss any concerns you have with your Realtor, your greatest ally when buying a house.
Clearly this article has detailed how to avoid a big mistake home buyers make when previewing houses by being prepared with a valuable checklist. Put simply you will accomplish two things. First your Realtor can suggest possible solutions to your concerns. Second your agent will better understand what you are looking for and show you properties that may be more to your liking.
Take your time when buying a house to shop around for the best housing fit.
By: Kate Ford
Tags: Absolute Necessities, Basic Necessities, Bathrooms, Bedrooms, Buying A House, Dreams, Emotional Decision, Emotional Experiences, Enough Space, Family Member, Feelings, Future Home, Gut Feeling, Having Children, Home Buyer Checklist, Mistake, Real Estate Agent, Realtor, Sudden Decision, Wish List