Buying a Home

Look out for problems
Inspect the ceilings of the closets and other places where people forget to paint. You may find water damage that has not
been covered up. Has the basement ever flooded? Look along the lower walls of the basement for water marks. Is there
new paneling on the walls even though the basement isn't finished?

How will our stuff fit?
Bring a measuring tape when looking at homes especially if you're going back to look a second time. Room sizes can
often be hard to judge and you need to be aware of what you have that will fit and what you will need to replace.

What about utilities?
Ask! High gas bills may mean the house needs to be better insulated or has an inefficient furnace. Inspect the windows to
make sure they are in good condition. You may want to actually open and close a few of them. Many times windows get
painted shut. People rarely think about the large cost of replacing all the windows in a house

Check into the taxes?
See if the owner has an exemption that you might not otherwise qualify. That means that you will be paying higher taxes
than reflected in their bills. Ask the owners about parts of the home that have been improved recently or things they were
thinking about improving. In some cases they may have already paid an architect or designer to make plans for them but
decided not to go through with the project.

Earnest money
Including earnest money with your offer to by a home shows your serious. If a deal should fall through, your lawyer will
typically be able to get your money back.

Resale Value
Your home is likely your primary investment. Location is key to resale. Homes on busy streets are difficult to resell. Towns
with good school systems and government services tend to have homes with higher resale value. What are the crime stats
for the neighborhood? What kind of shops are located near by? Grocery stores? Gas stations? Dry cleaners? Convenience
Stores? What kind of access is there to mass transit and highways? People want homes near by to make things
convenient. That being said I do not know too many people that want to live right next to a gas station.