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What are some things you’d tell a first time home buyer? Give the advice you wish you got.
Posted on 2/21/21 at 5:29 am
Posted on 2/21/21 at 5:29 am
Title says it all. Looking for some insight from someone going through the process for the first time. Maybe this becomes so valuable it’s stickied? Who knows.
This post was edited on 2/21/21 at 5:30 am
26
Posted on 2/21/21 at 6:37 am to DiamondDog
Get a good inspection report even pointing out the small stuff. It turns into a good punchlist of weekend projects to fix.
Don't do anything stupid finacially during the process, like buy a car or run up credit card debt or take a large cash gift.
If you want to do simple repairs like paint or a project that will create a lot of dust, do them before you move anything in.
Don't do anything stupid finacially during the process, like buy a car or run up credit card debt or take a large cash gift.
If you want to do simple repairs like paint or a project that will create a lot of dust, do them before you move anything in.
Posted on 2/21/21 at 7:36 am to DiamondDog
That the lot you are buying is just as important as the home itself
Posted on 2/21/21 at 7:57 am to DiamondDog
Find out about all the neighbors on all sides of you. Bad neighbors can ruin a perfectly good house. Are they loud? Throw a lot of parties? Do they dogs that bark all hours of the day or night? Do they maintain their house and yard to the same standards you plan to maintain yours?
Does the property flood? Is electricity to neighborhood above ground or underground? Is it an older area with lots of big trees? If so, what's the average time power is out for hurricanes, ice storms, etc?
Is there an HOA? If so, is it actively managed? Run by tyrants? Is there a bunch of neighborhood drama and bullshite you're walking in to?
Just a few of the less obvious questions to ask yourself before moving in.
Does the property flood? Is electricity to neighborhood above ground or underground? Is it an older area with lots of big trees? If so, what's the average time power is out for hurricanes, ice storms, etc?
Is there an HOA? If so, is it actively managed? Run by tyrants? Is there a bunch of neighborhood drama and bullshite you're walking in to?
Just a few of the less obvious questions to ask yourself before moving in.
Posted on 2/21/21 at 8:05 am to jfw3535
look past the initial cost. The bigger and more expensive house cost more in taxes, insurance and utility bills.
Posted on 2/21/21 at 8:06 am to DiamondDog
A bit off topic, but buying a home today is so different than just a few years ago thanks to this crazy market.
We bought our first home in 2009, and we took several weeks to conduct inspections, take multiple detailed walk throughs of the house, and really did our due diligence.
In 2020, we lost three houses because other folks swooped in and bought sight-unseen and without inspection. This market makes it tough to make an informed buy. We eventually bought a great house, but there are a number of things that surprised me that I would have discovered if we could have taken more time.
We bought our first home in 2009, and we took several weeks to conduct inspections, take multiple detailed walk throughs of the house, and really did our due diligence.
In 2020, we lost three houses because other folks swooped in and bought sight-unseen and without inspection. This market makes it tough to make an informed buy. We eventually bought a great house, but there are a number of things that surprised me that I would have discovered if we could have taken more time.
Posted on 2/21/21 at 8:36 am to DiamondDog
When buying the house think about if as if you were selling it. What’s the resell value of it. What is the school district look like. How does the house appeal to other people at different phases of life.
Personally if I had something to really change I would buy my first house as if I was buying a nice rental property. Put down 20% and pay it off as fast as possible. Then buy another one similar. Do that 5 times then build a house that I plan to sell. My 5th house I build would be my forever home. If you take this approach you’ll have a diversified income and probably a paid off house.
Personally if I had something to really change I would buy my first house as if I was buying a nice rental property. Put down 20% and pay it off as fast as possible. Then buy another one similar. Do that 5 times then build a house that I plan to sell. My 5th house I build would be my forever home. If you take this approach you’ll have a diversified income and probably a paid off house.
Posted on 2/21/21 at 8:40 am to LSUfan20005
quote:
Get a good inspection report even pointing out the small stuff. It turns into a good punch list of weekend projects to fix.
BE THERE WHEN THE INSPECTION IS DONE. Ask questions, make sure he does the following ....check the AC/HVAC system. There is no proof that running the AC in cold weather causes damage to the AC unit That is an excuse for the inspector to not do his job. PULL THE AIR FILTER and check it for the date in which it was installed.
Locate the water meter and open the hatch. Nothing running inside means a still meter means no leaks between the meter and the house.
Have the inspector run the hot water, check all sinks. Operate all windows and doors. Check outlets throughout the house.
Check the electric panel. The inspector should check connections and remove the panel cover to inspect wiring...Make sure the inspector is a member of one of the two Inspector groups NACHI and ASHI. Check his license.
Remember, if he screws up ...the only thing you can get back...is his inspection fee. Nothing more. Read the fine print of his agreement.
When you move in. Do what a member of a Air Family learned (me). Stack all boxes in the garage. Bring a box in and unpack. Break down the box. Bring another in ....beats the hell out of tripping over boxes for days.
I can go on for days ....
Posted on 2/21/21 at 8:57 am to DiamondDog
1) Get a home inspection. And be there during it.
2) Get a plumbing pipe inspection from a company that only does scoping and not repairs
3) take an outlet tester and check every outlet in the house to make sure it’s all properly grounded snd all wet spaces are gfi protected. Also remove the panel cover snd make sure there are no double tapped breakers
4) turn on your ac unit and furnace. Let them each run for 30 min and check the air filter
5) walk with a flash light and check the ceiling (in house snd attic) for any signs of water or mold
6) walk all the floors with painters tape and mark any spots that have any movement
7) if it’s elevated get under there and take pictures. Look for rotting, termites, carpenter ants and an issue in MEP that may be below
8) open all your doors and windows, make a note of anything non-op or damaged
9) Make sure the home has a termite contract and talk to the contractor. See how long they’ve had the contract and if there’s ever been any termite damage
10) Check every water connection the house. Walk through and plug all the sinks and fill them up. When you take the drain out put a paper towel below the sink or take a flashlight snd check it. Also run your hand on the cabinet base. Sometimes small water drops can hide. Check behind the fridge as well
11) if your comfortable with it hop on the roof. If not just make sure the inspector takes tons of pics
12) if you have subsurface drainage check it with a hose. To make sure it works.
13) any gas appliances (fireplace, furnace, stove, water heater) check connections with leak detector spray from Home Depot
14) if you can build it into the contract to have your M & P systems serviced by a 3rd party contractor before you close and talk to the tech when he’s done servicing it to see if there were any issues.
15) Have a survey done to verify all the measurements of the sale are correct including fence locations.
16) Locate your plumbing clean out snd open it. Run the water in the house and flush all the toilets to make sure it’s running snd not backing up.
17) locate your water meter and home shutoff valve. Shut the valve off to the house snd open the water meter. Make sure the dial
Isn’t moving
18) Run any snd all utilities that are included. Dishwasher, washer, dryer, fridge etc
19) Ask if there’s an attic stock of the homes materials or if the previous homeowner has a list of materials and where they were purchased. (Flooring, paint, granite, cabinetry etc)
20) In writing ask for roofing information to try and obtain the warranty info
2) Get a plumbing pipe inspection from a company that only does scoping and not repairs
3) take an outlet tester and check every outlet in the house to make sure it’s all properly grounded snd all wet spaces are gfi protected. Also remove the panel cover snd make sure there are no double tapped breakers
4) turn on your ac unit and furnace. Let them each run for 30 min and check the air filter
5) walk with a flash light and check the ceiling (in house snd attic) for any signs of water or mold
6) walk all the floors with painters tape and mark any spots that have any movement
7) if it’s elevated get under there and take pictures. Look for rotting, termites, carpenter ants and an issue in MEP that may be below
8) open all your doors and windows, make a note of anything non-op or damaged
9) Make sure the home has a termite contract and talk to the contractor. See how long they’ve had the contract and if there’s ever been any termite damage
10) Check every water connection the house. Walk through and plug all the sinks and fill them up. When you take the drain out put a paper towel below the sink or take a flashlight snd check it. Also run your hand on the cabinet base. Sometimes small water drops can hide. Check behind the fridge as well
11) if your comfortable with it hop on the roof. If not just make sure the inspector takes tons of pics
12) if you have subsurface drainage check it with a hose. To make sure it works.
13) any gas appliances (fireplace, furnace, stove, water heater) check connections with leak detector spray from Home Depot
14) if you can build it into the contract to have your M & P systems serviced by a 3rd party contractor before you close and talk to the tech when he’s done servicing it to see if there were any issues.
15) Have a survey done to verify all the measurements of the sale are correct including fence locations.
16) Locate your plumbing clean out snd open it. Run the water in the house and flush all the toilets to make sure it’s running snd not backing up.
17) locate your water meter and home shutoff valve. Shut the valve off to the house snd open the water meter. Make sure the dial
Isn’t moving
18) Run any snd all utilities that are included. Dishwasher, washer, dryer, fridge etc
19) Ask if there’s an attic stock of the homes materials or if the previous homeowner has a list of materials and where they were purchased. (Flooring, paint, granite, cabinetry etc)
20) In writing ask for roofing information to try and obtain the warranty info
This post was edited on 2/21/21 at 9:12 am
Posted on 2/21/21 at 8:58 am to bluedragon
Obtain a copy of the last 12 months of utility bills so you know what to expect.
You will know it is the right house as soon as you walk in. If it doesn't wow you keep looking.
You will know it is the right house as soon as you walk in. If it doesn't wow you keep looking.
Posted on 2/21/21 at 12:28 pm to Solo Cam
When you walk through the house, if 1 room is a lot more cluttered than the others look to see what they are hiding.
My current home had very little furniture, but one room and a lot of junk that didn’t make sense. We knew they just did a bathroom remodel, apparently they tried to hide a shitty patch job. We learned the remodel happened because of a backed up sink that needed to be addressed from the bedroom. We didn’t care about the patch work because we were doing so much other Sheetrock work that this was a nonissue to us.
My current home had very little furniture, but one room and a lot of junk that didn’t make sense. We knew they just did a bathroom remodel, apparently they tried to hide a shitty patch job. We learned the remodel happened because of a backed up sink that needed to be addressed from the bedroom. We didn’t care about the patch work because we were doing so much other Sheetrock work that this was a nonissue to us.
Posted on 2/21/21 at 1:01 pm to DiamondDog
Leave emotion at the door
Posted on 2/21/21 at 1:03 pm to ElleEsEwe
When looking at potential properties, be driven by your head and not emotion. Emotion sells houses. But you have to maintain objectivity.
Posted on 2/21/21 at 3:33 pm to DiamondDog
Don’t rush it
Posted on 2/21/21 at 3:59 pm to DiamondDog
get a friend or family member who is impartial and will give you their real opinion to look at the house as well
couples often get too emotional about certain houses and will/can look past certain things simply because they fall in love with minor things about the home
couples often get too emotional about certain houses and will/can look past certain things simply because they fall in love with minor things about the home
Posted on 2/21/21 at 5:44 pm to DiamondDog
Something my wife and I didn’t think about when we bought our home was traffic on the street. We liked the neighborhood but didn’t realize that. We were both 22, fresh out of nursing school with no kids and didn’t think about raising kids on a street that’s more than half a mile long with no stop signs. People treat it like a drag strip so we never let the kids play in the front yard when they were young. Not a huge deal for some but it’s something I’d look at now.
Posted on 2/21/21 at 6:18 pm to DiamondDog
Check water pressure and how long it takes for the water to get hot.
Check for the number of outlets outside as well as faucets.
Get the biggest garage possible. You will need it.
Check for storage space.
Also, check the ages of the roof, HVAC, and water heater(s). You will not want to replace those items off the bat.
Check for the number of outlets outside as well as faucets.
Get the biggest garage possible. You will need it.
Check for storage space.
Also, check the ages of the roof, HVAC, and water heater(s). You will not want to replace those items off the bat.
This post was edited on 2/21/21 at 7:11 pm
Posted on 2/21/21 at 6:35 pm to magicman534
This is a great one that we didn’t think about that thankfully does not apply to my house. Even in neighborhoods you want to make sure your street is not a pass through people use to cut through or avoid lights. Pass by one day at drop off time for local schools, when school lets out, and morning & evening rush hour times for the area.
Posted on 2/21/21 at 7:21 pm to DiamondDog
Have them pump out the septic tank and get a survey done of the property if possible.
One thing I wished I had done before moving anything in was to hire painters and paint any rooms needing it. Same goes if you want to replace any flooring. Also, I would have hired a house keeper to do a "move-in" cleaning.
One thing I wished I had done before moving anything in was to hire painters and paint any rooms needing it. Same goes if you want to replace any flooring. Also, I would have hired a house keeper to do a "move-in" cleaning.
Posted on 2/21/21 at 7:34 pm to DiamondDog
Think about resale valve when you buy a house and fix it up.
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