How to Shop for a Home

When you get ready to buy your first home there are several important aspects you want to look at while you visit the property before making an offer.  Often we get distracted by decor and furnishings but in most cases that has little relevancy to your purchase.  When walking a home you think you might make an offer on, here are our Top 5 aspects of the home you should look at carefully:

1. Floor plan Layout – Does the layout work for you and how you plan to live in the home.  Are there enough bedrooms and baths?  Do you like the flow?  Is it easy to get in and out of the home?  Try your car out in the driveway or garage.  Walk the entire yard.
2. Major Mechanicals – Look at the manufactured dates for the Hot Water Heater and the HVAC system.  If they are really old you want to budget for replacement at some point in the future.  Turn on the hot water and take note of the temperature in the house.  How  does it feel.  If there is a second floor, is it as comfortable up there?  You may want to ask the homeowner if they would share any current utility bills with you.
3. Rain Water Management – If you live in an area that gets a lot of rain, you definitely want to check that the home has a method for keeping water flowing around and off the foundation.  Are there gutters and downspouts?  Does water appear to be sitting around the foundation?  Any signs of water penetration in the basement, if applicable?  Does the yard have proper grading that helps water flow off of it properly?
4. Roof – Get a good look at the roof while you walk the property if you can.  Does it look worn out or do you see signs of shingles curling or buckling?  Are there shingles missing?  Do you see any issues with flashing especially around chimneys?  Often you can request the age of roof from the homeowner if you have any concerns about it.
5. Foundation – Walk all the way around the house and examine the foundation.  Do you see signs of settling or large cracks?  Have supports been added to the basement or crawl space over time?  If foundation repairs have been done in the past they may have a transferable warranty you can ask the homeowner about.

At Art House, we look carefully at these aspects with our clients and work to learn as much about the home upfront.  We definitely recommend getting a knowledgeable home inspector to inspect the property with you during your inspection period.  We like Greg Smith over at Housemasters.  You can learn more about their services at:  https://housemaster.com/birmingham-home-inspection.