Questions to Ask When Buying A Home

When you're in the market for a home, it seems as if there are millions of questions to ask. As buyers it is so easy to become wrapped up in the physical aspects of the house, that you may give less attention to issues that could strongly impact your ability to enjoy a home. Before you buy, there are some factors that you may want to consider to be sure that the house you like is really the one you want to live in.

Consider The Location:
Where will you and your family go most often from the new home? How easy is it to reach those places from the home? How accessible are schools, churches, grocery stores, medical care, public transportation, shopping and your work?

Check Out The Surrounding Area:

What are the views from the house and the yard? Is the yard right for you and your family's activities? Is the house on a major road?  What is possibly going to be built in nearby undeveloped land? Is a new road or commercial development planned?

Watch The Clock:

Is rush hour traffic a problem? Will you be impacted by special events such as a school open house or church picnics? Test the driveway. How easy is it to get into and out of?

Service Providers:

What utilities serve the property? Do you want an all-electric house, or would you prefer gas? Where is the mailbox located?

Look a Little Deeper:

Is the property in a flood zone? If so, what is the history of floods in the area and what would flood insurance cost?

The Neighborhood:

How will you fit in with the neighbors? Do people seem to be friendly? Are the houses well-maintained? How is the parking situation?

Read The "Fine Print":

Is the house a part of a Homeowner's Association or does it have Mello-Roos taxes? Does the community have special by-laws or architectural controls over changes to a house? List the pros and cons.

Are there more questions you should ask? Of course, but the ones above give you a good start. It's a great idea to make a list of the positive and negative aspects of each property that you view. Then assign priorities to important elements of each home.

-Emily Schuyler, e-PRO

CENTURY 21 Select