Buying your first home can be full of challenges and you will need to conduct extensive research without the help of a real estate agent in order to make the best decision. One of the most important steps to buying a home involves the showing; ideally, you should set up at least three showings per house to get a really good feel for the home and ask all necessary questions. The second showing is the best time to check the house for simple physical defects and make note of all the drawbacks as you examine each area of the house.
Ilyce Glink, author of the book "100 Questions Every First Time Home Buyer Should Ask" encourages first time home buyers to reconfirm all the things they found appealing during the first showing and to try and spot problems as early as this stage to save time and money later on the home buying process. Some of the key things to look for during the second showing include:
Check the roof. Ask the property owner or the agent how old the roof is, and if there have been any renovations or repairs made to it. The cost of having to place a new roof or repair an old one is quite expensive, so knowing what condition the roof is in can prepare you for any future expenses that you may have if you decide to continue with the purchase.
Inspect the wear and tear of the interior. The things that you can look out for are wall cracks, creaky floorboards, shaky stairs, peeling paint and other similar defects that may not cost too much to fix, but need to be planned for.
Checking the mechanical systems. Are the water heaters and furnaces functioning? What type of insulation has been installed throughout the home? Ask the agent or home owner to provide details on the mechanicals so you're not left with any surprises later in the home buying process.
Assess the area. Go to the front and back area of the house to look around. Are the views to your liking? What is the noise level? These significant details can only be assessed doing an on-site inspection, and give you an idea of the environment that you will be living in.
Check for pests. Do you see any tell-tale signs of rats or termites? Are there roaches or other bugs? Find out if the house is infested with pests and if the property owner has done any pest control so that you won't be walking in this kind of problem unprepared.
Visualize yourself in the house. Imagine yourself in the house doing your daily activities. Does the furniture you have go with the house? Try to see yourself living in this house and see if it will truly be fit to be your home.
The second showing is your opportunity to conduct a preliminary self-inspection and make some basic decisions on whether this is truly a good match for you. Take the time to make a checklist of things you need to review so you don't miss all of the important details.
When looking for Minnesota homes for sale, the internet is an invaluable resource. New homebuyers can use the MN MLS to view active listings of homes and real estate throughout the state.
Ilyce Glink, author of the book "100 Questions Every First Time Home Buyer Should Ask" encourages first time home buyers to reconfirm all the things they found appealing during the first showing and to try and spot problems as early as this stage to save time and money later on the home buying process. Some of the key things to look for during the second showing include:
Check the roof. Ask the property owner or the agent how old the roof is, and if there have been any renovations or repairs made to it. The cost of having to place a new roof or repair an old one is quite expensive, so knowing what condition the roof is in can prepare you for any future expenses that you may have if you decide to continue with the purchase.
Inspect the wear and tear of the interior. The things that you can look out for are wall cracks, creaky floorboards, shaky stairs, peeling paint and other similar defects that may not cost too much to fix, but need to be planned for.
Checking the mechanical systems. Are the water heaters and furnaces functioning? What type of insulation has been installed throughout the home? Ask the agent or home owner to provide details on the mechanicals so you're not left with any surprises later in the home buying process.
Assess the area. Go to the front and back area of the house to look around. Are the views to your liking? What is the noise level? These significant details can only be assessed doing an on-site inspection, and give you an idea of the environment that you will be living in.
Check for pests. Do you see any tell-tale signs of rats or termites? Are there roaches or other bugs? Find out if the house is infested with pests and if the property owner has done any pest control so that you won't be walking in this kind of problem unprepared.
Visualize yourself in the house. Imagine yourself in the house doing your daily activities. Does the furniture you have go with the house? Try to see yourself living in this house and see if it will truly be fit to be your home.
The second showing is your opportunity to conduct a preliminary self-inspection and make some basic decisions on whether this is truly a good match for you. Take the time to make a checklist of things you need to review so you don't miss all of the important details.
When looking for Minnesota homes for sale, the internet is an invaluable resource. New homebuyers can use the MN MLS to view active listings of homes and real estate throughout the state.
