Discover Virginia


Checking Out Open Houses

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



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