Buying your first home can be full of challenges and you will need to conduct extensive research without the help of a real estate agent in order to make the best decision. One of the most important steps to buying a home involves the showing; ideally, you should set up at least three showings per house to get a really good feel for the home and ask all necessary questions. The second showing is the best time to check the house for simple physical defects and make note of all the drawbacks as you examine each area of the house.
Ilyce Glink, author of the book "100 Questions Every First Time Home Buyer Should Ask" encourages first time home buyers to reconfirm all the things they found appealing during the first showing and to try and spot problems as early as this stage to save time and money later on the home buying process. Some of the key things to look for during the second showing include:
Checking the roof. Ask the agent or owners how old the roof is, and what types or repairs or renovations have been made. Roofing costs can be extensive, especially on an older home, so it's a good idea to learn what type of investment you may need to make with the property in the near future.
Checking for signs of wear and tear in the interior. Look for cracks on the walls, creaky floorboards or shaky stairs as you walk through the home. While touch-up work may not be too costly, you should still have a strong understanding of the extent of damage.
Check the mechanical systems. Are all the heaters and furnaces functioning well? Is there any sort of insulation that is installed? Get all the details you can about the mechanical system so you can make provisions for repairs or replacements.
Do an assessment of the area. Check out the front and back view of the place. Do you like what you see? What is the noise level? These details can only be derived by actual observation and is needed to be done so you will have an idea about the area you will be living in.
Check for pests. Do you see any tell-tale signs of rats or termites? Are there roaches or other bugs? Find out if the house is infested with pests and if the property owner has done any pest control so that you won't be walking in this kind of problem unprepared.
Visualizing your daily activities. Can you see yourself cooking in the kitchen or watching television in the living room? Will your furniture fit easily in each area? Try visualizing the things you do every day as if you are living in this home and see if it truly 'feels like home.'
Time spent wisely during the second showing to do the necessary preliminary inspections will already help you trim down your choices. Having a list of the things that you have observed will greatly aid you in deciding which house to buy when you sit down to make your final decision. - 31386
Ilyce Glink, author of the book "100 Questions Every First Time Home Buyer Should Ask" encourages first time home buyers to reconfirm all the things they found appealing during the first showing and to try and spot problems as early as this stage to save time and money later on the home buying process. Some of the key things to look for during the second showing include:
Checking the roof. Ask the agent or owners how old the roof is, and what types or repairs or renovations have been made. Roofing costs can be extensive, especially on an older home, so it's a good idea to learn what type of investment you may need to make with the property in the near future.
Checking for signs of wear and tear in the interior. Look for cracks on the walls, creaky floorboards or shaky stairs as you walk through the home. While touch-up work may not be too costly, you should still have a strong understanding of the extent of damage.
Check the mechanical systems. Are all the heaters and furnaces functioning well? Is there any sort of insulation that is installed? Get all the details you can about the mechanical system so you can make provisions for repairs or replacements.
Do an assessment of the area. Check out the front and back view of the place. Do you like what you see? What is the noise level? These details can only be derived by actual observation and is needed to be done so you will have an idea about the area you will be living in.
Check for pests. Do you see any tell-tale signs of rats or termites? Are there roaches or other bugs? Find out if the house is infested with pests and if the property owner has done any pest control so that you won't be walking in this kind of problem unprepared.
Visualizing your daily activities. Can you see yourself cooking in the kitchen or watching television in the living room? Will your furniture fit easily in each area? Try visualizing the things you do every day as if you are living in this home and see if it truly 'feels like home.'
Time spent wisely during the second showing to do the necessary preliminary inspections will already help you trim down your choices. Having a list of the things that you have observed will greatly aid you in deciding which house to buy when you sit down to make your final decision. - 31386
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Looking for MN Homes for sale? A great resource for searching properties online is the Minnesota MLS, which enables you to search by price, neighborhood and several other criteria.
