No matter how much homework you do, how many lists you make, and how many houses you look at, something’s going to sneak up and surprise you after you’ve moved into your new home. You’ll be standing in your kitchen (or basement or yard), staring at a dripping faucet (or rusting pipe or rapidly rising water table), and thinking, "Wow, I never noticed that before."
This, too, is a natural part of the home-buying process. Fact is, it’s exceedingly difficult to inspect every amenity and wholly impossible to foresee every eventuality. But if you approach house hunting with a clear eye and a curious mind, you can certainly minimize many unforeseen surprises. And once you’re settled in, you may discover things that will help you make an even more informed decision the next time.
Until that day, consider the following a tip sheet for avoiding regret roulette.
Exterior Issues
- Look at the house by day and by night, in good weather and bad
- Consider the lay of the land, including any slope and potential water runoff
- Note the path of the sun, location of nearby trees, and other factors that may influence heating, cooling, and amount of natural light
- Inspect the roof, siding, and gutters for age and condition
- Think about the landscaping, if any, and the potential maintenance required
Interior Issues
- Is the floor plan appropriate for your lifestyle (e.g., is the baby’s nursery on the same floor as the master bedroom?)
- Is the basement dry, foundation solid, and/or crawlspace covered with a vapor barrier and free of debris?
- Is the insulation appropriate for both summer and winter living?
- Is the electrical power up to code and sufficient for your needs?
- Do the living areas get adequate natural light?
- Will your furnishings fit in the house (vis a vis space and style)?
- Is there enough closet and storage space for your belongings?
- Do the doors and windows work properly?
If, after considering everything from the surrounding neighborhood to the size of the bathrooms, you decide to make an offer, make it contingent on having a
professional inspection. In addition to keeping subsequent surprises to a minimum, the inspection report makes a great roadmap for those repairs you’ll eventually want to make.
Real Life Example
The meadow: One of the things Kathy loved about her new house was that it backed up against a greenbelt that reminded her of the verdant farmland she’d grown up around. What she didn’t realize was that the groundwater from that greenbelt flowed into the low meadow in which her house sat. "It’s pretty alright,” she says, “but our sump pump goes 24/7 ..."
The dark: Buying their home while it was still under construction, Gina and Randy got to see their house get built from the studs up. They met their neighbors, timed their commutes, even checked out the tot lot for the kids they hoped to someday have. The one thing they didn’t investigate? How the house sits on the lot. “The front faces south,” notes Randy. "The living room, master bedroom, and kitchen are all at the back -- they don’t get much light ..."
The fixer-upper: After looking at houses for nearly eight months, Kim and Ian found a fixer-upper that combined the character they wanted with a price they could afford. Over the next few years, they spent their time (and a good hunk of their savings) on a merry-go-round of repairs and remodeling. "It’s been a lot more upkeep than we anticipated," says Kim. "Our next house will be different ..."
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