Cody Day
An important part of the home buying process is touring prospective properties that are on your shortlist so you can make an educated decision as to which option would be the best investment for you. You likely already have a checklist of features and amenities to look for when touring prospective homes for sale. But you should also use the following checklist to ensure that you know what you'll be getting yourself in to before actually committing to a purchase.
Check the Cupboards and Closets
Looking inside the cupboards and closets throughout any home you tour will provide you with some insight into whether any critters have been living inside. Most people carefully clean surfaces and floors to get rid of clues that rodents, ants, or other pests are lurking when they're trying to sell their home. But many forget to thoroughly clean the insides of cupboards and closets out.
So check the corners inside these areas and look for signs of critters such as rodent droppings, discolored drywall, and buckling wood. If signs of critters are found, you'll know that you will have to pay for eradication measures before you can move in and factor the cost into your overall buying decision.
Smell the Curtains and Furnishings
You can get an idea of how the interior a home you're thinking about buying has been taken care of by smelling the curtains and furnishings throughout the place. You may smell animal dander, mold or mildew, cigarette smoke, or other odors that give you clues as to what has been going on inside the home.
If you're looking for a home that has been well taken care of and that hasn't been inundated with pets and smokers, smelling the curtains and furnishings will help you avoid any prospective homes that don't meet these requirements.
Test All of the Included Appliances
If any appliances are included in the sales price of a home you are thinking about buying, it's a good idea to test them all when you show up to tour the place. If an appliance does not work properly, it shouldn't be factored into the sales price. So you need to know about appliance problems ahead of time.
Any appliances that don't work properly can be used to negotiate a better price on the house if you want to go ahead with making an offer. You can always use the money you save on the home purchase to invest in new appliances after you move in.
For more information about the homes for sale in your area, contact a local real estate agent.
This website can serve as your home for information about real estate. Here, you will find articles about the buying process and others on the selling process. We've also included content related to getting a mortgage, finding a real estate agent, and scheduling an inspection. We hope that by addressing all aspects of the real estate world, we will make you better prepared to handle any real estate transactions that might be in your future. After all, real estate can be a really smart investment, but only if you buy the right home and know how much to offer. Start reading, and enjoy what you find.