16 Feb Tips When Viewing a Home
Tips When Viewing a Home
We are often asked, when looking at homes for sale, what should I look for? Here are some tips when viewing a home, whether it be a condo, townhome, single home or property with land.
Whether you’re looking for your first home or have purchased several times, there are some key criteria you should consider. It is important to have a short list of criteria to help you assess how the home will meet your lifestyle needs.
First consider the location, layout, size of home and lot/land (if applicable), these are features that you cannot change/difficult to change and will have great impact on your lifestyle and how the home functions for you. These features will also have a large impact on the value of the home and potential return on investment.
The key is to be prepared. By knowing your top 3 wants, you can easily rule out specific properties and save time by focusing on the ones that meet that criteria. Once that has been established, you can then move on to the nice-to-haves, updates, interior finishes, etc. and details of the home and property. Remember it is hard to find everything you are looking for in a home, so you may have to compromise.
Be sure to look at the online property details including any videos and virtual tours to give you an idea of the layout and don’t forget to map the home’s location. This will save you time and potential disappointment.
Before viewing a property, make a list of key things you want to know about the home and neighborhood. For example, if it’s an older home, you may want to know about possible maintenance issues, i.e. what are the ages of the roof, furnace or air conditioner. If it is a newer home, is the Tarion Warranty still in place, when will the driveway be paved, what are the designated schools for the home, etc. If you’re concerned about room sizes, measure the rooms in your present home and/or furniture so you have an idea of how big specific rooms need to be.
When viewing a home, spend time exploring each of the rooms, especially those that are most important to you. Bring a notebook or use your smartphone to make notes. And, don’t forget to ask your questions.
A good way to get started is by going to open houses, this will help you to see the type of questions you may have or features you’d like to have, but haven’t thought of. Open houses also give you another opportunity to look at a house a second time.
We encourage having a second showing when possible, but sometimes that may not be an option. If you’re searching for a new home within a tight time frame or searching for an out-of-town property, you may not have time to make multiple visits. In fact, you might only get a chance to view a property once before deciding whether or not to make an offer. In that case, you’ll need to be sure to get all the information you need from the one viewing.
Looking for a new property can be demanding. Working with a real estate agent who understands your needs and knows the Ottawa communities and what they have to offer, will greatly simplify your search. As experienced Realtors®, we are here to answer all your questions! We will update you on the present market and the value of comparable homes in the neighborhood(s) you are interested in. We have the expertise and contacts to assist you with your home purchase!