Important Details That You Don’t Want to Overlook at an Open House
House hunting can be very exciting and fun– after all, you’re making a life changing commitment to your financial standing and living situation. Being as this is such an important decision, be sure to know exactly what you should be looking for in a home. To ensure that you get the most out of the many open houses you’ll be attending, pay attention to these following details:
Natural light.
If windows are not well placed in a home, it can make the rooms feel dark and dreary. A good idea, if you are interested in a particular home, is to check out how natural lighting fills up a room at different times of the day. The pros of having good natural lighting is that you won’t have to pay extra on your electricity bill. Also be sure to keep room temperature in mind when it is filled with natural light. Does the room feel a bit too warm even when the windows are open? If so, this bit of information will give you some insight as to whether or not you will need to look into the insulation of the home. Installing and remodeling windows in a home can become expensive if you’re not prepared for it, so make sure you know what you’re getting in to.
Features that compliment varying weather conditions.
If you’re house hunting during the fall season, consider how you’d fare during the other seasons. Depending on where you decide to live, some places will have heavy snow during the winter months– if so, check to see how easy it will be to shovel the driveway. For places that are extremely hot, be sure to see how the sunlight hits the home and if there are any trees to provide shade.
Funky smells.
It’s important to always make sure the house is visually appealing, but don’t forget to use your other senses while inspecting a home. What do you smell? If there’s a slight scent of mildew in the air, there could be an underlying mold problem. If you smell things like pet odor, or cigarette smoke, request a deep clean of the home upon moving in.
Property neglect.
Try to notice any small things that need repairs like leaky faucets, chipped counter-tops or damaged floors. While these things can be easily fixed, why aren’t they? It could be a sign that bigger issues aren’t being tended to as well– and you definitely don’t want to get stuck with those costly repairs. However, if you are interested in the home don’t make insignificant fixing requests that aren’t worth asking for, and may jeopardize your home negotiation.
The neighborhood.
You’re not just moving into a home, you’re moving into a neighborhood– complete with new neighbors, local restaurants and environmental factors. Be sure to look into the local school district and calculate how far the home is from your work. Find out what amenities are close by like libraries, bike paths and parks.
It’s also important to make note of how much privacy you’ll have in this new home. Does your bedroom window face into your neighbor’s backyard or is there a fence blocking the view? If there’s a two story house behind yours, are they able to see directly into your back yard? If you value your privacy, don’t forget to evaluate the home at every angle.
A good flow.
Be sure you’re comfortable with the way the rooms flow into one another. If you like having lots of open space, perhaps you shouldn’t buy a home with narrow hallways and rooms that are closed off from each other. Make sure you’re comfortable with the way the indoors flow into the outdoors and that it’s conducive to your daily life.
Have you ever regretted overlooking something at an open house after moving in? Let us know your story in the comments below.