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Buying a home can be an exciting adventure. For some people, the excitement of owning a new home can cause them to forget to pay attention to the little details that will matter down the road. On top of knowing the basics about any new home you’re interested in, it’s important to consider things like maintenance needs, home improvements, heating and cooling systems, and local amenities before making a bid. If you’re hoping to become a new homeowner soon and are looking for tips on things you should know ahead of time, read on for things to consider when buying a home.
The Fine Details and Maintenance Needs
The art to buying a home without future regret is to attend open houses and showings with a checklist. More important than a home’s cosmetics is the cooling system, whether there’s mold, the HVAC units, and whether there will be repair costs for a new HVAC system in the near future. While you might be impressed by special features like frameless shower screens, low utility bills, or an AC unit, you’ll want to go further than finding the best showerscreen or a home with the greatest curb appeal on the block.
If you aren’t sure about things like signs it’s time to replace your central air system, you’ll want to ask a realtor you trust about each home’s air conditioner or HVAC system, ongoing maintenance, whether a home will need a new air conditioner or full air conditioning system, and so on. Areas to pay specific attention to are the roof, heating system, septic system, and well. In doing your research on these key areas of a home, you’ll save yourself from major repair expenses on a new system down the road.
Neighborhood Amenities
When buying a home, it’s important to look not only at that specific property. It’s a good idea to get the feel of a neighborhood before making an offer. Maybe you’re someone who loves engaging in self-care with trips to a day spa or the perfect pedicure at a place that offers ManiMe manicures. Perhaps you have kids and aren’t sure about the school district.
Thinking about places of worship, grocery stores, and your commute to work before buying are all important to be happy with your home long term. Whether you’re moving to a rural or urban location, you’ll also want to think about how close you are to top-notch medical facilities and hospitals. Consider your short and long-term goals with your new home. While you might consider yourself young and healthy now, if you plan to stay in your home forever, you’ll want easy access to healthcare in the future. For this reason, it’s important to know not only the fine details about your home but the general area as well.
Future Upgrades and Plans
After you’ve done your research and are sure about the neighborhood and future plans or updates to your potential home, you’ll want to sit down and create a budget. Using a mortgage calculator and factoring in repairs to an old system or things like increased energy efficiency, you’ll be in a better position to know if you can afford the property or if it would be inefficient for your needs.
Many people make the mistake of rushing into a home simply because they’re anxious to become homeowners. They find themselves scrambling to make expensive repairs or regretting their long commutes. By weighing the pros and cons of all the fine details, you’ll be less likely to regret your purchase.
At the end of the day, you’ll thank yourself for asking your realtor questions about home maintenance, improvements, and neighborhood activities and amenities now. By slowing down and finding out the little things about a potential home, you’ll be in a better position as a homeowner to not only afford but enjoy your home. Happy home shopping to you. Be sure to bring a list of questions for your realtor!
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