Home Buyers Guide

 They say the three most important things to think about when buying a home are location, location, location. You can change almost everything else, but you can't change your home's location. So when you go house hunting, consider proximity to your work, how the home is situated on the lot, ease of access, noise from neighbors, and traffic. 

Beyond location, look at the site of the home. If the home is on a hill, does it have a view, a walkout basement, or lots of stairs to climb? Do neighbors' windows look directly into the home? Is the yard suitable for kids, pets, gardening, or other uses? Try and imagine yourself living in the home. Can you visualize cooking dinner or watching TV? Can you envision your furniture in the space?

When viewing a property, remember that it is ok to be nosy, rest assured that the sellers have had ample notice to straighten up those spaces in anticipation of your poking around. So, don't hesitate to look in drawers and closets. I have had clients miss whole rooms and large storage areas by not opening a door they assumed went to a closet

Try to keep your comments limited while inside the property. You never know if a Seller is listening to your feedback and some comments could impact your ability to negotiate. 

Finally, don't think you can offend your REALTOR®. I always remind my clients that the house I'm showing them is not my house. So, if you like it, that's great. But if you hate anything about it, don't hesitate to say so. Doing so can result in you seeing more of the same and end up taking longer to find your dream home. 

The most important reason to conduct a home inspection is to avoid a costly mistake by purchasing a property in need of major repairs.

A pre-purchase home inspection gives you a chance to determine the true value and condition of the house. This includes structural soundness, the condition of mechanical systems, and more. Any problems the house has will be brought to the attention of everyone involved before closing on a sale.

A comprehensive inspection includes a visual examination of the home from top to bottom, including the heating, air conditioning systems, the interior plumbing and electrical systems, the roof and visible insulation, walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors, the foundation, basement and visible structure.

Following the examination, the inspector will provide a report that not only points out possible defects or areas of concerns, but also the positive aspects of the structure and the type of maintenance that will be necessary to keep the home in good shape.

Even the most experienced homeowners lack the knowledge and expertise of a professional home inspector. For example, watermarks in the basement may indicate a chronic seepage problem, or simply may be a result of a single incident.

A professional assessment will provide complete information about the condition of the property and will help avoid any unpleasant surprises after the sale.

First thing’s first: before you move, familiarize yourself with all of your current utility service providers. Utilities usually include cable and internet, water and sewer, gas, electricity, satellite, security system, trash and phone. If you’re planning on changing providers when you move, be sure to write down any new contact information. 

Moving to a new city or area of the country often requires using a different utility company altogether. Before you move, research the utility service providers in your area. In many cases, you may not have an option – as there’s only one utility service provider for certain utilities in many cities.  

Once you’ve organized all of your utility information, you’ll need to start contacting each provider separately to let them know you’re moving. We recommend contacting most providers at least two to three weeks in advance. For utility services that require an installation appointment, it’s a good idea to call a month in advance. 

When it comes to water and sewer services, these will most likely be handled through your new city or town. Arrange for the service to begin on closing day (or moving day, if renting) by contacting your city’s public utilities office a few weeks beforehand. 

If moving to a condo complex, confirm whether your maintenance fees cover basic utilities, including water and sewer, gas and trash pickup. Paying one monthly bill to the condo corporation instead of five separate bills to various utility companies will certainly make paying monthly bills an easier and more seamless process.