1. A Safe Neighborhood
A lot of people think this won’t be a big deal. It will be. There are neighborhoods all over America where homes are robbed every day and people don’t feel safe in their own home. Oftentimes just a few blocks from these neighborhoods are nice, safe, friendly communities that cost just a little more to live in. When you look at homes be sure to walk around the block and get a feel for the neighborhood. Are there kids playing in the streets? Is there a feeling of ease or distress in the air? You will be able to sense pretty quickly if people feel safe in the neighborhood.
2. The Wear and Tear
When looking at each home take a close look at the water heater, furnace, A/C, and shingles. These things tend to wear out on every home at some point, and there is nothing worse than purchasing a home and being forced to replace an expensive appliances in the same year. If you do not have a lot saved up, it may be a good idea to get a home warranty for your first year to cover major repairs, at least until you can rebuild your savings.
3. Utilities
Many people that go from renting to owning do not realize what a significant increase in utilities can come from the change. Some couples are astounded to find out that utilities that were once $200 are suddenly $700 or $800 a month, well above the range they can afford. Cities charge differently for utilities. Some newer cities have recently built their entire infrastructure and are paying off the debt, making utility prices much higher in these places. Other cities charge a lot more for utilities because of expensive taxes, etc. Be sure to get a good idea of what the average utility costs are for your size of home, before locking yourself into a potentially awful situation. There are dozens of online calculators that can help you get an idea of what your utilities will cost.
4. Lawn Maintenance
You may go and look at a home and admire how beautiful the yard and lawn look. Do not forget that good yards come with a price, and that is both hard work and money. You will need to buy a lawnmower and a weed eater at a minimum. If there are flower beds, you will probably have to invest a lot of time weeding. If your neighbors have weeds, you will also come to realize that it is going to be a long battle fighting those weeds off from your own yard. Another big thing to look for here is for a sprinkling system. Keeping a lawn green in most areas requires watering at least every other day. If the home does not have a sprinkling system, you may quickly discover that you do not have the time to deal with sprinklers in the middle of all the chaos of settling in the new house, and your lawn will quickly dry up.
5. Don’t Rush
Many new buyers feel the need to rush into buying their first home. This is not necessary. Spend time getting to know the different markets that you are interested in. As you look you will begin to develop a much better idea of what you really are interested in. If nothing comes up in a few months, you can know that you are probably looking for features that are out of your price range, but until then, take your time and find a home you can really be proud of. Featured photo credit: Cathy Yeulet via 123rf.com
