| Becoming a home owner for the first time is a | | | | smell in the basement (or excessive air |
| big step in any one's life. If you are young | | | | freshener!) |
| then you're probably plied with so much | | | | |
| advice from older members of the family that | | | | You can also ask to you use the bathroom and |
| your head is spinning. If you are not a | | | | wash your hands - thus surreptitiously |
| spring chicken anymore, then everyone thinks | | | | checking 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 good | | | | It is a very good idea to check the open |
| reason: it is probably the single most | | | | houses 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!Checking | | | | when you are ready. There are many question |
| out open houses is one way to familiarize | | | | that 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 good | | | | For instance you can ask about the |
| investment you need to start studying the | | | | neighborhood and the larger area. Ask for the |
| property market of the area you plan to buy | | | | pros and cons so that you can hear both |
| in. Read the local ads in the newspaper both | | | | sides. Find out the average street price. Ask |
| by realty companies and the ones that are | | | | about 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, drive | | | | the listing realtor, but you can ask if this |
| over and check it out. Also check it out at | | | | is the case. |
| night-time. | | | | |
| | | | Get used to asking if there has already been |
| Often when we are planning to buy our first | | | | any offers on the house. If so why were they |
| home, we have lofty ideals that the bank do | | | | rejected, was it because the price was too |
| not seem so keen to back up! You may have to | | | | low, or was it the conditions of the |
| fore-go the second bathroom or the laundry | | | | agreement? Ask if the seller has any |
| room or a deck,to buy a house within your | | | | conditions attached to the sale (i.e. they |
| price range. But, once you have your foot on | | | | may want 4 months to completion). |
| the property market, you can work towards | | | | |
| 'moving up' the property ladder, instead of | | | | Give a careful look at the outside of the |
| struggling to keep your down payment up with | | | | house 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 the | | | | looked after. |
| exterior is very plain, try to visualize it | | | | |
| with a porch that you can add, or with | | | | Does 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 to | | | | embarrassed 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 surveyor | | | | more comfortable about this and also more |
| will spot these for you. However it is more | | | | knowledgeable 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 | | | | |