3 Things to Look For When Buying a House
Buying a house can definitely be a tricky process, especially when it’s your first time. There are just so many steps that you have to take, and before you even start the process, you need to find a home for sale locally that you can (at least) stand to live in.
Although it’d be great if there were tips and tricks you could use to make quick home sales, the key is to have patience. You need to look through all the homes for sale and find the one that’s right for you. Otherwise, you won’t be happy, or worse, you’ll have an expensive mess on your hands.
Here’s what you should look at when buying a house.
The Location. – The three most important things you need to keep in mind when buying a house are: 1. Location. 2. Location. 3. Location. While you can fix up any small issue your house might have, you can’t fix up a neighborhood, a school system, or an area on your own. As great as a house may be, consider the area.
The Roof. – Unless you plan on buying a house that’s brand new, there are probably going to be a few small issues that may or may not need fixing. Whether it’s a fresh coat of paint, or maybe a little bit of electrical work, it’s usually not that big of a deal… unless it’s the roof. Take a good look at the roof, and make sure there aren’t a lot of missing tiles, or loose granules. If it looks like it’s caving in, forget about it. Roofs are expensive, and a lot of work. If you’re buying a house, you’re going to want one with a roof that will last you as long as you live there.
The Smell. – As you check out various homes for sale, give them all a good sniff. If you smell sewage, gas, or anything equally unpleasant, you’re going to have an issue. The sewage system of older homes can sometimes get clogged, or damaged by tree roots, creating a foul odor. Pet odors, cigarette stink, and mildew can also be problems that you’re not going to want to deal with.
Buying a house takes time — there’s no doubt about that — but so long as you have patience, you’ll find that one special place amongst all those other local houses for sale. It’ll be worth the effort.
If you have any questions about buying a house, feel free to share in the comments.