Buying a new home is a long term investment. After all, you’re going to spend so many years of your life paying off the mortgage. The process of house hunting can be daunting and overwhelming indeed, especially since there are so many gorgeous houses available in the market. If you are a first-time buyer who is looking to buy a house that you can call your own, you should think of hiring an expert Chandler home inspector is the best way to check for any possible damages or flaws that can lead to colossal costs in repairs. Besides that, here are 9 things that you need to look for when you are house hunting.
1. The size of your home
How many rooms and bathrooms do you really need? Are you a newly married couple who is looking to shift into a new house to start your family? Is it just you and your partner who are going to live in this new house? You need to be very sure about the number of bedrooms and bathrooms that you require in your new home. Of course, a big house is great but that also means you need to spend a whole lot more money on upkeep and maintenance.
2. The location and area
What kind of area do you want to live in? Are you looking for a property near a school district? Are you looking for a home that is close to your place of work? Do you want to live in the city centre or the suburbs? Before you start speaking to estate agents, you need to be sure of where you want to stay. Let’s say, you decide to live in Beckenham, then you need to get in touch with local estate agents in Beckenham.
3. The size of the plot
How big is the plot? Yes, you know what the size and dimensions of the house are, but what about the size of the plot? There are so many doubts about where a property ends and begins, and the last thing you want to do is encroach on your neighbour’s space or public land. So, when you start looking at potential houses, you must know the exact size and dimensions of the plot.
4. The layout of the kitchen
If you enjoy home-cooked meals, then you need to consider the layout of the kitchen. Is there enough space in the kitchen for you to work seamlessly? Do you like the countertops in the kitchen? Is there enough storage space? If you’re cooking for two, a small kitchen might work. If you’re cooking for a whole family, you’re going to need a much larger kitchen. After all, you can change the interiors and upgrade the amenities, but the size and layout of the kitchen won’t change.
5. The age of the property
If a property is half a decade old, or more, you’ll probably have to re-do the plumbing and check the electrical wiring. The older the property, the more repairs it will require. The more the repairs, the more amount of money you’ll have to put into the property to make it liveable. The newer the house, the more likely it is already fitted with modern amenities and energy-efficient electricals which work better for you in the long run. However, most contemporary houses will have a higher selling price than vintage properties. At the end of the day, your budget constraints matter too.
6. The basic structure and design
Ask yourself a simple question, do you like the basic structure and design of the house you are viewing? You can totally change the interiors, you can add modern elements and even hire an interior decorator to totally transport the space, but you cannot change the basic structure and design without spending thousands and thousands of pounds.
7. The neighbours and neighbourhood
Is this house in a safe neighbourhood? What are the crime statistics of the area? What are the neighbours like? Are the next-door neighbours noisy? If you have to live in this house, you need to know about everything surrounding the house. You should visit the property at different times of the day just to get a fair idea of the neighbourhood.
8. The space and storage space
When you move with bags and baggage, you’re going to need a whole lot of storage space. Don’t get impressed by the walk-in closet or the systematically arranged kitchen cabinets; you need to see if the house has enough storage space for you and your family. Open drawers and wardrobes to properly assess the storage space in the property.
9. The cost of running the home
If you do end up buying a certain property, how much will you have to spend every month to maintain the property? Now, this is a very important question because you might burn a hole in your pocket if you buy a place that has very high upkeep. You need to consider monthly utility bills, land taxes, property taxes, maintenance charges and so on.
