Learn 7 Things While Visiting a Home for Sale
Posted by Elizabeth Dennis on December 7, 2009 | No Comments
You’ve determined that you can afford a new home, have narrowed down the style of home you want and the neighborhood you prefer. Now it is time to visit homes for sale. For those homes that have grabbed your attention, make sure to learn the following about each:
Find the Fact Sheet
The fact sheet is typically a one page sheet or brochure listing the facts about the home. A few of the items you’ll find on the sheet include:
- Color photograph of the home
- Age of the house
- Lot size
- Age of the roof
- Age of the appliances and other basic systems
- Total square footage
- Sizes of individual rooms
- School district
Ideally, the fact sheet should be left out for you to grab when you visit the home (on a table or a counter). In addition to providing important information about the home, it will be extremely helpful later as you try to remember the details about the many homes you have seen. If there isn’t a fact sheet available during your visit, have your agent obtain one for you.
Number of Showings and Length of Time on the Market
Learn how many times the home has been shown and for how long it has been for sale. If the number of showings seems high or it has been on the market for a long time, find out why. Perhaps there is a problem with the home that you don’t know about yet. Is there a feature flaw that is obvious to everybody else but you?
Recent Improvements and Repairs Needed
Have there been recent improvements to the home? This information may help lessen anxiety about purchasing an older home. Additionally, if a home has been updated regularly, there is a great chance that the previous owners took good care of the home. Now is also the time to ask about the most-needed repairs for the house.
A Year of Utility Bills
Is there a feature about the home that makes you pause in terms of heating and cooling? Are you thinking “wow, this room must be a fortune to heat” or “these windows are drafty.” Always request copies of the home’s heating, electric, garbage, and water bills. These days it is quite easy for the homeowner to download twelve months worth of utility bills – obtaining this information shouldn’t be a problem.
Appliances
Ask what appliances are included in the sale of the home. Typically a stove, stove top, oven and a built-in dishwasher stay with the home. Make note of their condition and how soon you might need to replace them.
Neighbors
While you may not get an objective answer to the question: “what are the neighbors like?” you can learn if there are any outstanding issues with regards to noise, property lines, trees, fences, parking etc.
Is the Home Being Staged?
Staging is a process where a professional will come into a home for sale to make it look appealing to potential buyers. The owner’s personal items, clutter and extra furniture are removed. The remaining furniture is moved into a layout desirable to potential buyers.
So, why is this important? Remember, the house will look as close to perfect as it can be, but will your existing furniture fit in the space? Are the rooms actually roomy or is furniture missing? Be sure to bring the measurements of your existing rooms and furniture.
Disclosure Report and Home Inspection
As you conclude your first visit to a home, you may still have unanswered questions. Fear not. For those homes about which you are serious enough to make an offer, you will mostly likely receive a seller’s disclosure report and have a home inspection done which will answer these questions and reveal any additional issues.
Tags: home buying tips
Filed Under: Home Buying, Newbuyer's Own
