What to Look For While House Hunting

Are you looking for a new home? Do you feel overwhelmed by all the available choices in the real estate market? If you can answer "yes" to either of these questions, please read on.

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Here are some top tips for house hunting.

Get a Real Estate Agent You Can Trust

Finding real estate help can be daunting, or it can be effortless, but either way, they will share their top tips for house hunting with you along with all of their experience. 

The difference in finding an agent is if you are familiar with some real estate agents, either through previous real estate transactions or by word-of-mouth, it can be easy to make a choice.

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However, if you have no previous real estate market experience, it can be overwhelming. The first step will be to find a real estate agent with whom you can work. Here are some tips for choosing the right agent.

• Choose the person, not their experience level. Why? Because you will be spending a lot of time with this person and you need to relate to him or her. Choose someone who is a good talker and good at negotiating.
• Chemistry is key. Interview at least three agents before choosing one. Focus on neighbourhood expertise. Do they market themselves or their properties? Do they seem trustworthy? Do they seem honest? Chemistry is the key.
• Seek referrals from other homeowners. Word of mouth is still the best way to choose an agent.
• He or she needs to have your best interests at heart. Be honest and transparent about what you are looking for and what you expect. For example, if you have set a price limit, and the agent continually shows you homes above that, they are thinking only of their bottom line, not yours.
• Gut feeling means a lot when making an important decision. Intuition, logic, and emotion figure into decision-making. See if they currently have a lot of business, and then go with your gut feeling.
• Trust is a major factor when choosing an agent. Please pay close attention to how he or she listens to you and asks you questions. Technology is excellent for viewing properties, but it takes the human touch to understand and achieve goals. Their top tips for house hunting will be meaningless if you don't trust the advice they're giving.
• Passion, conviction, and honesty in the agent's work is the easiest and most beneficial way to review how they are marketing other properties. View their listing materials, website, and signage. Could you pay close attention to their appearance?
• Make sure they offer support, either by themselves or with a team.
• Find an agent who is honest about the risks of buying and selling. It would help if you had someone who is realistic and can proactively mitigate risk.

Looking at the Curb Appeal

Any real estate agent or previous house hunter will tell you that a property's landscaping, including beautiful windows or a wood garage door, will sell a property just as quickly as the home's interior. 

That's why one of the top tips for house hunting is to look at the curb appeal and upkeep of the yard.

Look at what colour home is painted, the trees, shrubbery, and flowers that adorn the landscape since these are massive selling points. Is there a patio or deck area in the rear of the property? Does it have a swimming pool? Is it fenced for your dog or small children?

A home can be modestly priced and still have much curb appeal. It all has to do with pride of ownership, not money or status. 

If the lawn is neatly trimmed and weed-free, that shows pride of ownership. It is the opinion of many that how a property looks on the outside will reflect how it is cared for on the inside.

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If you find the perfect property, but it doesn't have the deck, patio, pool, or fenced yard you need, don't let that deter you. Aside from the collection, these are good DIY projects. Take a weekend, get some friends together, and have a deck-building or a fence installing party. 

Make sure you already have your plans drawn up and all your materials purchased, and if not too elaborate, it could be done in a weekend.

A home improvement centre can assist with the design and materials needed. So please don't allow the home of your dreams to get away simply because there are a few amenities it does not have. Just do it yourself!

The property's exterior is the first thing anyone sees as they drive by your home, front or back. It should be impressive and make you proud when you pull into your driveway.

In the Bathroom

One important thing to look at when purchasing a new home is the plumbing, which is why one of the top tips for house hunting is to check out your potential future home's bathrooms thoroughly. Is it outdated? 

Does it need a bathtub replacement because the existing one is antiquated?

A bathroom remodels, or renovation is usually quite costly. If possible, try to find a property with both the bathroom and the kitchen remodelled. It will save money and aggravation in the long run. 

Both of these areas of the home are difficult to remodel while you are living in the house.

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Frequently, an owner will need to live elsewhere for a short amount of time. This involves additional costs and much inconvenience. Try to find a property that has an updated bathroom and kitchen. You will be glad you did.

In the Bedrooms

Unfortunately, more contemporary homes today are built with smaller bedrooms. Perhaps it is because many homes today have family rooms, bonus spaces, playrooms, rec rooms, and flex spaces. 

Builders maybe feel that large bedrooms are no longer an efficient use of square footage.

But what if you have a large bedroom set? What if you have a baby bedroom furniture set that is an heirloom? Surely you would not want to part with these items. 

Before house hunting, measure the rooms, these essential pieces are in to ensure your new home has bedrooms large enough to accommodate these pieces.

The same would be true of your living room, dining room, family room, office, or any other space that needs to accommodate your existing furniture. Do you have a grand piano? Make sure there is an appropriate spot for it. 

If you don't have many pieces to move to the new home, then the rooms' sizes will not matter as much.

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Also, consider the size of the bedroom closets. Many builders today do not build closets large enough. Usually, a master bedroom suite will have a large walk-in closet or two. But the cabinets in the children's bedrooms, or guest bedrooms, are generally too small.

If you have the luxury of being able to custom build a home, you can choose how large you want the bedroom closets to be. But if you do not have this option, you will have to take note of the sizes when looking for a new property. 

Perhaps it will mean that you need to trim down the wardrobe and dispose of clothing or items that you no longer wear or use that often. Donate these items to Goodwill, Salvation Army, or some other charitable organization. Your donation is tax-deductible!

Check on the HVAC System

It is vital you know the age and reliability of the mechanicals in your new home. 

Many homeowners who have older homes to sell will have replaced the heating service, air conditioner systems, electrical panel, water heater, etc., to make the property easier to sell and possibly pass inspection.

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If these mechanisms are not more recent and need to be replaced, it should be reflected in the property's price.

Ask About the Roof

Another pricey item when discussing home repairs is the roof, so asking about past roof repairs and roof maintenance is one of the top tips for house hunting. 

Make sure you ask about roof repair with questions such as if there has been a repair lately and if there is any need to be done. Almost all mortgage companies will require a property inspection and appraisal before approving a mortgage application. 

But of course, this does depend on the state you are in.

But it is not easy to inspect a roof. Not all inspectors or appraisers will get on the top to assess its age and durability. In most states, the present owner of the home needs to disclose the age of the roof, but there could be problems even if the top is not that old. 

For example, a windstorm could have caused lost or loose shingles that might not be visible from the ground.

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A roof is another costly fix. So make sure you know the condition of the top before you purchase. And depending on its condition, make sure that it is reflected in the price of the property.

Kitchen Appliances, Cabinetry, and Countertops

Another highly desired feature when looking for a new home is a remodelled kitchen. Even for those women who multi-task daily, balancing work and home life, a beautiful kitchen is usually the room in the house that is the most important to them. 

Meal preparation becomes a joy if it is done in a beautiful setting.

There are many beautiful kitchen cabinets available in the marketplace today to suit every taste, budget, and décor, which is why one of the top tips for house hunting is to look for what interests you, not just what is trendy. 

You can find cabinetry in various colours of stain, paint, and other finishes. There are multitudes of hardware styles and types to use on your cabinets. If there are no hardware pulls on the cabinets or drawers, they can be added easily to protect the cabinets.

Solid surface countertops, granite, concrete, or other stone materials are what kitchen remodelers are using today. There are also a considerable number of laminates that are much more durable than those of the past. 

So for those who are budget conscious, a laminate can be just as beautiful.

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Modern, up-to-date appliances are part of the newly remodelled or renovated kitchen. Stainless steel finishes are what kitchen remodelers look for today. 

This finish will look great in a modern, contemporary kitchen or look just as attractive in a more traditional, homey kitchen, so one of the top tips for house hunting is to make sure you're looking for the kind of kitchen appliances that you want.

For those working with a limited budget, buying a home with all the bells and whistles as described will not work. Don't lose heart! 

The top tips for house hunting include purchasing a home you love in a location that works for your family, and as you have the time and money, do the remodel yourself.

Many people are DIYers who would not think of paying contractors to do what they can do themselves. Many big box home improvement stores have classes for homeowners who desire to do the work themselves, even if they could afford to pay someone else to do it.

There is great satisfaction in completing a remodel yourself. And it is not necessary to purchase new appliances. Look for used machines in your neighbourhood paper or go online. 

You will be amazed at the number of appliances you will have to choose from and at a price you can afford. They will not have a guarantee, but the savings you will experience will make it worth it.

So when house hunting, keep the kitchen in mind. It is, after all, the heart of the home.

Flooring Throughout the Home

Many homeowners selling their properties will offer a flooring allowance if it needs to be replaced, so one of the top tips for house hunting is to ask about this flooring allowance if you want to have the floors replaced. 

The new owner can use it to purchase carpet, hardwood, vinyl, tile, or whatever flooring they desire.

Many homeowners have updated their flooring with hardwood or hardwood laminate, especially in the home's main living areas. It is easier to keep clean than carpet, especially if you have pets. But carpeting in the bedrooms is still preferred by many people.

Shopping for a new home is a fun experience. Set your budget, find your agent, and begin looking. But don't forget you can browse the internet for sites that have homes for sale. 

That is a great way to scan the market for homes in your price range to see what your money can buy. Then have your agent book the showing of the property for you.

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You can also go to open houses in the neighbourhood of your choice. Viewing open houses is an excellent way to see what is available in your price range to determine if you need to make some adjustments budget-wise.

However you decide to proceed with your house hunt, it can be a delightfully fun experience for one person, a couple, or an entire family. Happy house hunting!