Buyers Market - points to consider when buying or building a house

BUYER'S MARKET
Points to consider when buying or building a house

BY JANIS TURK

Buying a new home can be daunting — and that’s before you ever talk to a banker. You look until it becomes a full-time job. Some houses you instantly know you won’t seriously consider, and with another it may be love at first sight. But as when choosing someone you want to spend your life with, choosing a home you want to spend your life in should be a solemn decision too — a decision of the head as much as the heart.

There’s so much to consider and so many questions to ask when seeking the home that’s right for you, so it helps to have a punch list of things to check when you do.

Curb appeal
is about more than just aesthetics; look at the house to see if the walls appear to be plumb and flat. You don’t want bowed walls or corners that aren’t square. As you stand back, how does the roof look? Is there mold growing on the exterior? How weathered is the siding material? How many years do you think the current paint job will last? Another thing to consider is drainage. Does the ground slope down sending water
away from the base of the house, or does it pool and collect there? Are the gutters and drainage pipes working — carrying water away from the house, or are they pouring it back onto your slab? Are gutters hanging down, are they covered, are they full of leaves? Leaves can be cleaned out, but putting new gutters on a house if the existing ones are falling down can be a costly project you may not want to face on moving day. A lot of people are worried about kitchens and bathrooms, and there’s time to look at all that, but don’t neglect some more important things like the foundation, the roof and drainage. Pay attention to these things as you approach the house.

Watering Systems:
Is there a sprinkler system in place? Is it in working order? Will you want to add one? How much work is going to be involved to keep the lawn lovely. Has the landscaping been neglected? What is the water bill like each month?

Floor it.
Inside, look closely at the floor. If you were to jump in the middle of the room, would the floor feel solid, or would it flex? Do the wood floors need to be refinished? What’s under that old carpet? Does the family have pets that may have damaged the carpet or the flooring beneath?

Electrical.
Are there enough outlets? Are they in the places you need? Does the main circuit breaker have at least 100 amps? And while you’re looking at electric receptacles, how about the phone jacks: Are there enough available for your family’s phones, computers and such?

Plumbing and water heaters.
Is the water heater an antique, or is it fairly energy efficient? Is it gas or electric? (Gas water heaters tend to be more efficient). Are the water supply pipes going to the water heater made of copper?

Insulation:
Is the attic well insulated? Are the walls insulated? In climates like ours, up to R-19 (6 inches of fiberglass) is a pretty much the minimum you should have.

Air Conditioning/Heating:
Are any of the rooms not heated or cooled? Where are the furnace and air conditioning units located, and what kind are they? Are the registers and ductwork large enough to adequately move hot and cold through when you need them?

Bathrooms and kitchen fixtures.
Are the fixtures in the home of good quality? Do they work properly? Is the water pressure good in the shower and when you flush the toilets and turn on the faucets? Do you have both hot and cold water coming from all the faucets?

Fireplaces:
Are they working fireplaces? Have they been cleaned recently? Are the inner walls strong with no cracks or missing bricks? What about the dampers? Do they open and close easily? Does the chimney have a spark arrestor at the top?

Closets and storage:
Are the storage spaces in this house adequate to meet your needs? Will you need to add or enlarge any of the closets? Is the lighting in the closets effective and safe, or will the wiring there need to be replaced? Is there room for storage in an attic or garage? Older homes sometimes don’t have enough closets. Newer homes sometimes have closets the size of small offices. Is there space in the utility room for storage too? You can never have too much space. There are a thousand things to consider when looking for a new home, but if you cross these ten questions off your list early in the game, it may save you money — and headaches — when you make your move.