Shopping For Your House

You know what you want, you know where you would like to live and you know what you can afford. After reconciling these factors in your mind as part of a reality check, you are set to start shopping for your home. Where do you look, who should you see? What do you do when you see what you want? 

• Where do you look, who should you see? I recommend that you get in touch with a reputable real estate agency, whose record of integrity and efficiency is well known, in the market place. You can easily find out which agents to put on your short list of choices by asking trusted friends and relatives who had recent success in purchasing a home or a home-site through a real estate agency. 

• What do you do when you see what you want?  It is natural to get excited when you see what you want. I remember the feeling quite well after seeing the house that became a happy haven for my family. You will have to contain your excitement, though, remembering that you are still in the driver’s seat. Of course, you will be fair, but you should negotiate the price, because a home purchase is a very significant investment, and could well be the biggest investment you will make in your life. Let your mind rule your heart and your pocket! The things that you should closely consider in a house is the quality of construction, the standard of maintenance, its adequacy in relation to the needs of your family. If you are a greenhorn, make sure and get a builder to help you to carry out a thorough check of the house. You also should consider the location of the home in relation to schools, shopping and work. And, you cannot afford to overlook the neighborhood; is it fairly safe, it it progressive or on a downward course of degradation? Take your time, but don’t take forever to check all of the things mentioned. There are other things that you need to consider, such as the topography of the site. Is the land subject to flooding? Is basic infrastructure in place, such as electricity, telephones, cable television, city water, streetlights and side walks. Are there hazards in the immediate neighborhood? What about hazards in the yard like overgrown shade trees that could cause roof damage. Is the septic tank working properly? Are you absolutely sure that the legal description of the property fits the property that you are hoping to buy? Has the property been recently surveyed?Are there any encroachments on the property?