| Becoming a home owner for the first time is a big step | | | | surveyor, so avoid homes that obviously have a damp |
| in any one's life. If you are young then you're probably | | | | smell in the basement (or excessive air freshener!) |
| plied with so much advice from older members of the | | | | You can also ask to you use the bathroom and wash |
| family that your head is spinning. If you are not a spring | | | | your hands - thus surreptitiously checking the flushing |
| chicken anymore, then everyone thinks you have all | | | | system and the hot water taps. |
| the answers - but you don't! | | | | It is a very good idea to check the open houses in |
| The decision is fraught with doubt for a good reason: it | | | | your area before you are ready to buy. This will give |
| is probably the single most expensive thing you have | | | | you more confidence for when you are ready. There |
| bought in your life. No-one wants to waste their | | | | are many question that you can ask the real estate |
| money!Checking out open houses is one way to | | | | agent who is showing the house. |
| familiarize yourself with the real estate market. | | | | For instance you can ask about the neighborhood and |
| In order to feel you are making a good investment you | | | | the larger area. Ask for the pros and cons so that you |
| need to start studying the property market of the area | | | | can hear both sides. Find out the average street price. |
| you plan to buy in. Read the local ads in the | | | | Ask about the defects of the house! Remember the |
| newspaper both by realty companies and the ones | | | | person showing the house may not always be the |
| that are 'sale by owner'. If you are on a low budget, | | | | listing realtor, but you can ask if this is the case. |
| and notice a consistently cheaper area, drive over and | | | | Get used to asking if there has already been any |
| check it out. Also check it out at night-time. | | | | offers on the house. If so why were they rejected, |
| Often when we are planning to buy our first home, we | | | | was it because the price was too low, or was it the |
| have lofty ideals that the bank do not seem so keen | | | | conditions of the agreement? Ask if the seller has any |
| to back up! You may have to fore-go the second | | | | conditions attached to the sale (i.e. they may want 4 |
| bathroom or the laundry room or a deck,to buy a | | | | months to completion). |
| house within your price range. But, once you have your | | | | Give a careful look at the outside of the house near |
| foot on the property market, you can work towards | | | | the ground, check for water leakages. Are the gutters |
| 'moving up' the property ladder, instead of struggling to | | | | spilling over - this may indicate how well the house is |
| keep your down payment up with it. | | | | looked after. |
| If the house needs a coat of paint or if the exterior is | | | | Does it have any noise issues? Is it near a railway line, |
| very plain, try to visualize it with a porch that you can | | | | a shooting range, or a club that turns out late at night? |
| add, or with shutters or painted an exotic color. | | | | Do not feel embarrassed to ask questions. Once you |
| There are some flaws which you do not want to | | | | have checked out a few open houses, you will feel |
| consider, and these run into the structural, electrical and | | | | more comfortable about this and also more |
| water problems. A surveyor will spot these for you. | | | | knowledgeable about what type of house feels right |
| However it is more financial outlay for you to hire a | | | | for you. |