3 Things To Pay Attention To When Shopping For A Home

26 Sep 3 Things To Pay Attention To When Shopping For A Home

Congratulations on your commitment to buying a home. This is one of the most rewarding decisions that you’ll ever make, but the processing of shopping for and choosing a property can also be very frustration. By the time you’re ready to buy a home, you should have a pretty solid understanding of the basic requirements: a sound foundation, a leak-free roof, and wiring that isn’t going to catch on fire. But what are some of the other factors that you need to be on the lookout for – those things that aren’t necessarily covered in home inspections? While these things may not be as serious as a crumbling foundation, they can have an impact on the long-term value of your investment and the amount of enjoyment that you get from it. Following are three things to pay attention to when you’re shopping for a home.

1. How much natural light the unit gets.

Aside from proverbial cave-dwellers, all home buyers are going to want homes that get plenty of natural light. Not only will natural light enhance indoor aesthetics, but it can also brighten your mood. Nevertheless, this one factor that many buyers regularly overlook. Always make an effort to schedule viewing during the mid-morning or early afternoon so that you can see how much sunlight the unit is getting.

Another strong motivator for choosing homes that get lots of natural light is this: Getting the right amount of natural light in your new home will help you avoid a number of larger and more costly issues. Without enough natural light, it could be necessary to modify or add windows which can cost as much as $15k.

2. Parking

If your parking space is too small, you may not remain infatuated with your new home for very long. This space should be seen as an extension of your entryway. Spaces that are too narrow can make parking a veritable nightmare, day in and day out. Home in areas that are prone to massive snowdrifts could result in your being blocked in. Make sure you know what the local rules are on street parking as well.

3. The Community

This should be one of the first factors you consider in your housing search because you want to like the neighborhood you live. Make sure that the neighborhood has large sidewalks for taking leisurely strolls or riding your bike. Find out which options in public transportation exist and learn more about the neighborhood schools. Last, read over HOA documents carefully before signing your name. The tedious process of trudging through bylaws will prevent unpleasant surprises later on.