Make Carolina Home

10 Steps to House Hunting with a Well-Trained Eye

It sounds like a great listing: in your price range, in a good neighborhood, with most of the features you’re looking for. First impressions mean a lot.  But then you see that the bushes are overgrown, the front hallway is covered with tacky foil wallpaper, the kitchen cabinets are painted dark brown, the living room rug smells musty, and the hardwood floors have black water marks on them.

So should you head back out the door? Maybe, but maybe not. To fully determine whether you should cross this house off of your list you’ll need to gather more information, and perhaps look past the blemishes to get a full picture of this house’s potential. How do you do that? Follow these 10 steps.

1. Start with emotion, but end with facts. Buying a home is an emotional process. You may find yourself jumping up and down, clapping, and squealing over a certain property.  And it’s OK if your initial impression is an emotional one.  But because a home purchase can be one of the largest you’ll ever make, it is essential that you gather all of the facts necessary to make an educated decision.  Don't look at and fall in love with a homes you can't afford.  Don't just buy something so-so because you're desperate to own a home right now.  You should love your home and be making a wise decision.
2. Look for good bones. Don’t get hooked on the decorating. Learn to look past the furniture, carpet, wall colors, window treatments, and other decorating.  These are all easily changeable.  Instead, focus on the home's layout and flow. New cherry cabinets and granite counters matter little if they are in the galley kitchen and you have a family of five. At the same time a family room with black walls featuring a mural of the moon on one side also matters little if it is big enough for your needs. Aesthetics (paint, carpet, cracks, etc.) are relatively inexpensive to fix – major construction, however, is another matter.
3. Does the house actually fit you? You need to know whether you and your stuff will fit with as well as into a home.  Will the new oversized furniture you love fit through the doorways into the smallish rooms of that 1940 bungalow?  Does the thought of sharing the only bathroom in that adorable house with your three children make you cringe?  Will you have to rent out the extra bedrooms to pay for the air-conditioning bils of your expansive McMansion?  Don't just love the idea of a home: consider if you'll love living in it too.
4. What’s the condition of the home? Does it need new paint or all new siding? Is that crack just cosmetic or indicative of a structural issue?  Have a licensed home inspector check your house carefully so you are aware of what you are getting into. And ask yourself if you are both financially and emotionally ready to buy a home that requires work for you to live in it.
5. Make sure the most expensive areas are workable. The two most expensive rooms in a home to renovate are kitchens and bathrooms. If you’re stretching to be able to afford a home and still eat, make sure these two rooms don’t need renovating anytime soon.  If you do plan on expanding them, make sure that the space already exists so you don't have to bump out exterior walls - this can be quite expensive
6. When looking at room layout, corners are key. Rooms with doorways in the middle of walls flow better than rooms that open into a corner. This is true of both how it feels as well as how the furniture fits in it.  The only exception is with bedrooms: look for doorways that don't obstruct your usable wall space, especially when you also have to account for doors to closets, bathrooms, and balconies.
7. Take an inventory of what needs changing. Develop a list of features you like in the house as you walk through, but also make a list of things that might need changing.  Does  the living room have to be repainted?  Can you live with the wall paper and carpet for now?  Be realistic about you really want to do to the house to make it livable for your needs and tastes and whether you actually want to undertake those projects.
8. Is there room for expansion? You might not be concerned with adding onto the home you’re viewing today, but what about tomorrow? Don’t necessarily exclude those homes that don’t have the room and a logical place to expand, but do understand that you will be limited in your options down the road.
9. Landscaping: Does it look like a park or a landfill? Landscaping not only includes the grass, bushes and any gardens, but also the hardscape – the sidewalk, deck and/or patio. People are spending more time than ever outdoors and you’re likely no different. Landscaping improvements can be costly, but is one area in which homeowners often tackle projects themselves. If you have the time, energy, and expertise you can save money by doing some landscaping improvements. But costs can add up here – be sure to factor that into your decision and/or bid.
10. Check the zoning, nobody likes surprises. Too often homeowners are horrified to learn that their tranquil neighborhood is being invaded by a new section of highway, a big commercial business, or a new dumping area. Before you put in a bid on a house, go to the town hall, city hall, or county register of records and find out the zoning of all contiguous properties.