Know what to look for before you start your journey towards owning a home.
Credit: Jennifer L. Thompson | ©Jennifer L. Thompson
Throughout the natural course of this lifetime, I have had the opportunity to review literally thousands of homes. Being the youngest child of older, adventurous parents, the bulk of my househunting experience started at about age nine.
With my dad retiring, and only two children left living full-time at home, new experiences beckoned, and real estate hunting became a renewed favorite pastime for my parents (with yours truly in tow). Subsequently, these things lead to the purchase, moving into, and re-sale of several homes, of several types, in three states. Of course, not without reviewing hundreds more along the way.
This gave me the opportunity to learn a great deal about real estate, through listening to and interacting with many agents, home owners, and others, starting at a young age with those whom my parents discussed possible and then final purchases.
As an adult, and with my own family, I've continued on with a passion for real estate. We went on to invest... buying and re-selling a number of homes, and even refurbishing some. My two most recent projects are small-yet-efficient, and yet still lovable homes that I now own and live in, located in neighboring states and bordering the Mississippi River. I have never lost money on the sale of a house.
These experiences, and those of friends and the rest of our family, have taught me to look at particular things in addition to the ususal curb appeal when purchasing a pre-owned home, in order to prevent unexpected disappointment and/or expense once you've moved in. Some things you will find you can live with and/or fix, others you wouldn't want to... unless you get just the right place.
1) Floors and Ceilings
In newer homes, the first two years seem to be the time-frame for any shoddy workmanship to show itself. Look for flooring issues such as lifting, warping, or discoloration, even when buying a home less than two years old. Check the ceilings in any home for signs of a leaking roof.
2) Electricity/plug-ins
With my dad retiring, and only two children left living full-time at home, new experiences beckoned, and real estate hunting became a renewed favorite pastime for my parents (with yours truly in tow). Subsequently, these things lead to the purchase, moving into, and re-sale of several homes, of several types, in three states. Of course, not without reviewing hundreds more along the way.
This gave me the opportunity to learn a great deal about real estate, through listening to and interacting with many agents, home owners, and others, starting at a young age with those whom my parents discussed possible and then final purchases.
As an adult, and with my own family, I've continued on with a passion for real estate. We went on to invest... buying and re-selling a number of homes, and even refurbishing some. My two most recent projects are small-yet-efficient, and yet still lovable homes that I now own and live in, located in neighboring states and bordering the Mississippi River. I have never lost money on the sale of a house.
These experiences, and those of friends and the rest of our family, have taught me to look at particular things in addition to the ususal curb appeal when purchasing a pre-owned home, in order to prevent unexpected disappointment and/or expense once you've moved in. Some things you will find you can live with and/or fix, others you wouldn't want to... unless you get just the right place.
1) Floors and Ceilings
In newer homes, the first two years seem to be the time-frame for any shoddy workmanship to show itself. Look for flooring issues such as lifting, warping, or discoloration, even when buying a home less than two years old. Check the ceilings in any home for signs of a leaking roof.
2) Electricity/plug-ins
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