Home-Buying Tips

Some things to look for and do:

• Air-conditioners with scroll compressor and high efficiency rating.
• Multi-stage central air-conditioning units that adjust to changing load requirements.  These provide high efficiency, excellent comfort, and better control of humidity.
• White or light-colored roofs reduce the cooling load in summer.
• Outside HVAC units placed on the West side of the building will not be as efficient in summer due to the heat load they are working into.
• Buy title insurance
• Have a property survey done even if not required for your closing.
• Keep accurate and complete records of all transactions and proceedings.
• Be sure the contract correctly specifies your intent.  This may require the services of an attorney...not your real estate agent or the one you think is yours.
• If you do not have an agency agreement with the realtor it is unlikely that he/she is representing your interests, and may even be responsible to the other party.
• Make a list of and prioritize your likes, must haves, and dislikes:
  • type of house.
  • location (views, proximity to work & entertainment, school locations).
  • colors.
  • furnishings and decorating requirements.
  • rooms, baths, dining, work areas, play areas, storage, layout, special requirements (e.g., single level for disabled or elderly), flower and vegetable garden areas, trees, etc.
  • materials internal and external.
  • outside living amenities.
  • lighting.
  • routine care and maintenance required.
  • renovation that might be required to bring up to your standards.
• If you hire a home inspector, be sure he/she is adequately protecting your interests and not the interests (risk reduction and consummation of a sale) of the realtor.  Learn ahead of time what will be inspected and how.  Be there when the inspection is conducted, review the inspection results with the inspector, and ask a lot of questions.  Don't settle for canned, computerized answers in the report.