I am in the process of looking for my first house - please help!!!!?

Question

I have started making enquiries about buying a house and I am due to view a property today. Any tips for what bad things to look out for in a house?

Answer 1

Damp! Look at top floor rooms in corners above windows! Look for newly painted ceilings that may be disguising problems!

Check guttering if poss - Check in loft area - be suspicious of any obvious signs of redecorating! Check seals around Double Glazed windows and doors!

Check to see if Household electrical system is fitted with Circuit Breakers (RCD)....Check for storage space (stupid I know - but you'll be surprised how many people don't notice that there is no storage space in a house).

Check boiler - How old is it? Has it been serviced and with whom? If boiler is more than 10 yrs old you may have extra expense to lay out! Boilers aren't cheap!

But above all - if it feels right when you walk in - you will know!

Answer 2

If you are just starting out assume that you will likely need to see a number of properties before you get a good feel for what is important.

It can be helpful if you have a checklist. That way you at least focus on the same things in each property. Assuming you are in the US and working with a Realtor get a copy of the listing from the MLS. Then make notes as to the condition of each room, appliances that are includes, dimensions of the rooms, etc. Consider taking pictures of each room so you can remember later what a specific house looked like. You will be surprised at how the different homes will blur together.

Expect that once you find a place you really like you will need a second visit. You will have questions and will have overlooked things.

Consider visiting the area at different times of the day and evening. Is there a school or factory nearby? Does the traffic get busy at specific periods of the day? Does the area feel safe at night? Where is the public transport?

What can you notice about the area and the neighbors? Do people keep their homes looking nice or are there auto shops set up on the front lawn?

Consider heading to the bookstore or the library to see if there is a book on buying a house. There are some titles out there and they will come with check lists plus tips.

Answer 3

Check to see if it's been inspected and by who. A professional inspection will find many problems that the owner either doesn't know about, or is trying to cover up.
If you're NOT a smoker, you DON'T want to buy a place that was inhabited by one unless you plan on spending a fortune getting the "smell" out. Same is true of pets but the cost of eliminating the odors and stains is less.
If your buying a new home, again, get an independent inspection prior to signing or depositing more than a refundable amount based on what that inspection has to say.
Make sure taxes are paid and that there are no liens on the property. ( Title insurance). And try and find a trustworthy lendor if one even exists anymore. The BBB is a great place to start!

Answer 4

How long has the house been on the market for?
Visit the local police station and ask about the crime rate in the locality.
Ask to see utility bills re cost of keeping the house etc..
What council tax band is it?
What are the local schools like? You might not have kids but think about how attractive the property might be when you come to sell.
Contact an Insurer and ask about the claims record for the area, are you in a flood plain etc.?
What structural alterations have been made in the last five years?
Talk to the neighbours.
Visit the house during the day and at night, just drive by. It speaks volumes for the noise etc..
Get a builder to accompany you, puts a value on the things that need doing etc..

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!

Answer 5

Use a realtor. If you're new to the process, you have to have someone with lots of experience to guide you. Meet with and interview at least 3 experienced realtors, too. You want someone that you can work with, and that you trust here.

Make sure that you sign a "buyer's agent" agreement with the realtor. Where I live, by law all realtors represent the seller in the end unless they sign a buyer's agent agreement. This means that they legally represent the buyer. They still get paid in the traditional manner (by the seller) but they now legally work for you.

Next - look to see how the house fits your needs and situation.

does the house fit your budget?

does the house fit your needs? Room for your family, enough storage, does it have a basement?

If you have kids or plan to, is it near a good school? Is the school system in that area a good one?

Will your furniture fit?

Look at lots of houses, and don't fall in love with just one. A good rule of thumb for life is, "Don't fall in love with something that can't love you back". Puppies, yes - houses, no.

Once you find a house you like, hire a home inspector to look at the place. He will spend several hours going through the house, looking at everything from the roof to the basement foundation. You should get a report listing all the major components of the house, and their condition. This should include plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling systems, roof, foundation, siding, foundation, septic system, well if it has one, and more. Don't skimp - money spent on this will save you in the long run. We walked away from a house built on water frontage because the inspector said "You'll spend $100,000 over the next 10 years fixing everything that's wrong, or you'll spend $100,000 in the next 2 years to wipe this place off the map, and build a decent house".

Answer 6

Hey Jo, recently bought 1st house myself. Most Important thing in my opinion? Disturbance.

Your home is your castle and your refuge so V IMPORTANT that your neighbours are nice people as you'll bump into them whether you like it or not, and they're not noisy, or listen to loud music until 4.00am every day, have screaming kids etc
(you should ask the seller LOADS of questions about this stuff)

Same applies to noise from local bars, pubs, clubs etc

you must feel safe, so if there are hoodies hanging around in gangs on the street corner when you go to look at it, forget. Check for graffitti in the streets around the area too, quite a good tell tale sign

hope that helps

Answer 7

Go in through the back door. Don't make any comments, good or bad, just observe. Flush a toilet and turn on a tap to see if both can run at the same time. Look for white marks in basement (water). Look for lifted shingles on roof. Find out how old furnace and/or a/c is. Lift a window and see if it stays there or if it slides back down. It it's brick, make sure the cement between bricks isn't crumbling.
DON'T make any decisions till you've slept on it.

Answer 8

Its a biggy!

first of do you have thememans to do any work that might be required? If so then great, look beyond the carpets and wallpaper but if you want to move in and unpack then be prepared to pay more for a house that suits you as it is.

Go with your gut instinct. I have twice and have had great properties. Think about what is important to you about an area - transport link, shops, schools and so on.

Answer 9

This may not be complete. Look at eaves for dry rot. Check bathroom floor is weak. ( Does it bounce or sag when you walk on it?) Look at ceiling for water marks. If you think it's good get it inspected by a professional. And look at the carpet for stains. Check the kitchen floor the same as bathroom. check hot water tank and plumbing for leaks. (Water pipes should be copper.) taste of water. Check yard for chemical or waste dumping. look for cracks walls inside and outside. Look closely at foundation. Go with a checklist. look in crawl space at pipes.give a quick look in attic.

Answer 10

Since it's winter most places, make sure the roof doesn't leak by going there on a rainy day.