You have a checklist when it comes to things you want to look for in your home search, but there are some things you might also want to check out when visiting a listing.
The neighborhood
If you are unfamiliar with the neighborhood that a listing is in, you might want to drive around the spot several different times throughout the day. Going through at night will give you a good idea if the area is safe.
Cell signal
If you work from home, or rely on your cell phone for your line of communication, then you need to make sure you can get a good cell signal in the house. When you are viewing the home, test out the cell service and if it is a problem for you, this is not the right home for you.
Your commute
You may love the home you are viewing, but that doesn’t mean the commute will work for you. Testing your commute from the home is a good idea to see what rush hour will be like in the morning and the afternoon.
Noise
Check out what is surrounding the home. If it is close to an airport, you might have air traffic noise or if it is close to the freeway that can also be a problem. If a train would wake you up during the night and is something you cannot get used to, then look for a train track anywhere close to the home.
Association fees and rules
If a home is in a community that has an HOA, then you will have to pay homeowner association dues. If you want to change anything about the exterior of your home, you will also need to have permission from the HOA to do so. This might not be a place that you would want to live, so double check with the neighborhood to see if they have an association.
Neighbors
You would hate to fall in love with a home you looked at,purchased it and then come to find out you have horrible neighbors. If possible, when you are viewing the home, try to meet your neighbors to get a feel for them. When you meet them, you can also gain their insight on the neighborhood.
Resale Value
This is something you will also want to consider even if you are planning on staying in the home for several years. You might love the home, but it might back up to a busy street. When looking at the home, also take note of things that might detour a potential future buyer.
Water Pressure
Very important to take a quick check to see if the home has good water pressure. This can be an issue you can work out with the current sellers on a solution to fix the problem.
Bedroom-to-Bathroom Ratio
You can never have too many bathrooms in a home. When you are looking at a new home while you are walking through, think about how many bedrooms will share a bathroom.
Is There Room To Expand?
You might think a three bedroom home with a quaint living area is perfect for you but there is always a chance your family will expand. Always look to see if there is room to expand if you add a family member. If there is not enough, will it be affordable to expand?
These are great things to consider when you are viewing a potential new home. Remember if you are in the market for a new home, contact a local sale agent. They can help you not only find the right home, but help you consider all of these items to make sure it is the right fit.
