Folsom 9/19/2012 9:30:05 PM
News / Real Estate

10 things to know when searching for single family homes

Buying a new home is an exciting experience. It is also an experience that requires becoming very knowledgeable about the house and property that is under consideration. Asking questions is necessary, from both the real estate agent involved and organizations in different cities such as Property Management in Sacramento. The following ten items are good to know when searching for a new home.

1. Why is the house up for sale? Talk to the real estate agent and find out exactly why the house is for sale. Is it because of issues with the house? Do the owners want to move for personal reasons? Has there been a down turn in the economy in the region? These are all good things to know when moving a family in to a new house.

2. Is the house affordable? It is a good idea not to buy a house that is outside of a set budget. Knowing the price of the house and all the taxes and other expenses involved will help to know how much money will go out every month.

3. What do the neighbors think about the house? It is a good idea to quiz the neighbors on what they think of the house. This will help bring out issues that the real estate agent and owners might not know about.

4. What are the schools near the house like? Every family needs to be near a good school. Find out what the education institutions near the house are like. A bad school should be an automatic reason not to buy the home.

5. What is the neighborhood like? Another good reason not to buy a house is the state of the neighborhood. Look and see if the property values are going down, if the crime rate is rising, and how the neighbors act. Living is a bad neighborhood isn’t fun for anyone, especially for a family.

6. How many rooms does the house have? This includes bedrooms, kitchen, bathrooms, living areas, and other rooms in a house. The overall space should be examined carefully to determine how big a family the house could hold. Space is at a premium, especially for a bigger family.

7. What condition are insides of the walls like? Even if the house in good shape, find out what is going on inside the walls. This includes pipes, plumbing, insulation, and other items. Citywide organizations, such as the Property Management in Sacramento, should also have much of this information.

8. What is the condition of the foundation? Buying a great house on a bad foundation can mean major costs in the future. Make sure the foundation is not sinking in to the ground or in bad shape. This will save money in the end.

9. What does a home inspector have to say? Contracting a home inspector to make a run through of a prospective house is necessary. See what this inspector has to say. Ask him about wiring, the foundation, the walls, and the general condition of the grounds.

10. What is the history of the home? Knowing the history of the home, such as who has owned in the past and how many times it has been sold, will help pinpoint problems the home might have An old home might have wiring issues, for instance.