Becoming A Homeowner

Posted on: 25 July 2019

When you're touring homes to find one you like, you'll probably do a fairly quick walkthrough the first time. Once you've narrowed down your choices and found a house you want to make an offer on, it's a good idea to tour the house again for a closer look. Here are some things you may want to check before you buy a house.

The Room Dimensions 

Many people find it difficult to visualize how furniture will fill up a space. The sellers of the home may have removed most of the furniture to make the home seem more spacious than it is. This is especially true of closets that seem bigger when they've been decluttered. Use your phone to take photos and video of the house so you can study it later. Also, get dimensions of the rooms and closets to see if your furniture and clothing will fit or if you'll have to add to your costs by downsizing your king bed or large entertainment center. Visualize where you would place your furniture in each room to see if outlets are plentiful and arranged suitably for your needs.

The Amount Of Work You Need To Do

You may not be lucky enough to find a house in pristine condition that is move-in ready and has paint colors you love. If you need to paint and do other work to the house, write down the jobs you'll have to do and then calculate the costs when you get home so you have a true idea of how much it will cost to move into the house and get it to your standards. While you can probably paint by yourself, things like adding new flooring or new lighting may require a contractor at a considerable expense.

Pretend To Cook A Meal

If the layout of the kitchen is different than your kitchen at home, go through the steps of preparing a meal. You may find a smaller kitchen isn't worth it if you don't have enough counter space and there isn't room to add an island. Also, while you're in the kitchen look over the appliances for obvious problems because you probably don't want to replace them soon because of a breakdown or because the appliances don't match.

Test The Plumbing

Try every water faucet and shower and watch for things like drains slow to drain out and weak water pressure. If you love strong showers, you may be unhappy in a place with weak water pressure if the pressure can't be adjusted by a plumber later. You'll also want a home inspector to check the major parts of the house such as the roof, plumbing, HVAC, foundation, and appliances so you have an informed idea of what type of repairs you'll have to make, and if you want to spend the money or pass on the house.