things to look for in new (used) house

[joaks]

Hello all,

My wife and I are currently looking to purchase a place of our own. We found a place we like but I am a little troubled by the fact I don't have more complaints about it. This suggests to me that I am missing something as our price range is pretty modest considering we are looking in expensive San Diego. Most of the places we find in our budget have several major issues.

For those of you who have purchased in the past- is there anything you wished you had thought about beforehand? I have a couple of books on house buying so have gone through the typical issues already.

A little background on our situation- we are looking in the $500-550k range (will use standard fixed rate mortgage with 20% down). Right now it is just the two of us but we would like to have one child once we get settled. Also, my wife comes from a culture where family visits long-term. Therefore we prefer a 3-bedroom house/condo although we have also looked at 2-beds. We can go to 600k and stay at our current plan...but I would like to not do that

.

Thanks!

 

[Bud_One]

I wish I had of hired my own home inspector, instead of letting them use "their guy".

 

[DerbyDave]

Don't get hung up on cosmetic stuff. Colors, carpet, and fixtures can all be changed. Make sure all the systems are in good working order. These are the things headaches are made of. Is the foundation good. Is the roof and shingles good. How is the plumbing, electrical, A/C etc. How is the grading (does water flow away from the house in a heavy rain. How is the insulation and windows, Utility bills are not cheap. These are the things I concern myself with when I am looking at a house. If you are handy don't be afraid of an ugly house with good bones you can sometimes score a good deal if you are willing to put in a little work to an otherwise solid house. Hire an inspector and don't be afraid to ask the inspector questions. This is a big investment.

 

[OneEyeJack]

Check every electrical outlet and switch, everyone. Work off a check list for everything else. These check lists are available on the Internet. Skip nothing. Take your time. Trust no one.

 

[larryinnewyork]

I heard on the Radio a couple days ago.

First look in the Basement
Then the Attic

Like previous Poster said, don't worry about cosmetics.

Look for water damage, drainage issues, etc.

Good luck.
My opinion is, a house is just a house, it's the family inside that's important.

 

[georgemiller]

Foundation check for large cracking. Ask if any work was done to home not that a load bearing wall was removed and you have major issues several years later. If I was inexperienced, I would hire a professional and follow him around and ask lots of questions then I would have enough knowledge to get by on my own.

Never let them use " their guy"

 

[firemachine69]

Originally Posted By: DerbyDave
Don't get hung up on cosmetic stuff. Colors, carpet, and fixtures can all be changed. Make sure all the systems are in good working order. These are the things headaches are made of. Is the foundation good. Is the roof and shingles good. How is the plumbing, electrical, A/C etc. How is the grading (does water flow away from the house in a heavy rain. How is the insulation and windows, Utility bills are not cheap. These are the things I concern myself with when I am looking at a house. If you are handy don't be afraid of an ugly house with good bones you can sometimes score a good deal if you are willing to put in a little work to an otherwise solid house. Hire an inspector and don't be afraid to ask the inspector questions. This is a big investment.



I'll add...

Check about fault lines and high water tables. You don't want to be in either.


And from my field of work, you do NOT want to live close to a sewage lift station, or a dead end street (unless you're positive the water main is looped).

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Make sure you know the neighborhood and the statistics for the area. Schools, area amenities, crime, police calls, etc. Make sure it's not an area with nightly gunfire, gang/criminal activity, or really bad neighbors. Do some research and make sure it's a neighborhood that you look forward to returning home every day.

Hire a good property inspector. I can't emphasize that enough. Not a property report from someone else, but one that you're paying, and not "a guy" who took an online course a month ago and is now inspecting properties for a living. Make sure the inspector carries errors and omissions insurance coverage, otherwise if something major is missed you'll could be on the hook for several thousand dollars.

Is the property close to a police, fire station, airport or rail line? There would be few things worse than getting awakened every night by the sound of sirens, overhead airplanes or trains rumbling past.

While some may say not to be concerned over the cosmetics of the property, unless you're willing to do the work and the property is discounted appropriately, you should be concerned about the cosmetics. A property that is in poor cosmetic condition is often indicative of other neglect, and the price should reflect the poor cosmetic condition. Not only can it be a lot of work to put a property back into good cosmetic condition, it can be expensive. Who wants to live in a home that looks like a dump?

If family visits long term, are you comfortable with them in a bedroom close to yours, or do you prefer a master wing at the opposite end of the home? We have guests and family over frequently, and on occasions there are week-long stays. We designed our home with the master wing and guest bedrooms at opposite sides of the home for that reason.

Is past work done on the home permitted and up to code? In older homes, things like asbestos, knob and tube wiring, and vintage plumbing can rack up a lot of money in repairs. In older homes, unless it has already been abated, lead paint is a serious issue and should not be overlooked. Make sure you know what you're getting into.

 

[Jarlaxle]

Think long and hard before hanging that millstone around your neck.