Real Estate Resources and Advice For Growing Families

Recommendations For You To Follow During The Home Buying Process

As a home buyer you want to make sure the home you select and close on has all the features and amenities that you want in a residence, but also you want a home that is in the condition you expect it to be. There is nothing worse than buying something and finding out later on that it is not what you expected it to be, either from defects or improper description. And a home is no different, as you want to make sure you have a clear understanding of its condition and features: both good and bad. Having the right information about a property can help you make the best informed decision, so here are some essential steps you need to take in your home purchase experience to make the process more successful.

Hire a Home Inspection

As an essential step in the buying process, you should hire a professional home inspector to go through the home and check it thoroughly before you close on its purchase. As you and your realtor tour through the property, you can both look for obvious issues or signs of damage to the property, such as stained carpeting or a broken chair railing, but interior components of a home can go unnoticed to the untrained eye. Your home inspector has a trained eye and will be able to look through the home and fulfill a complete home inspection.

Your home inspector will check areas inside the home, such as the electrical components, and make sure all the switches and outlets are working properly and have the right set-up and grounding. Then, they can check the home's air conditioner and HVAC system, including the blower motor, fan, coils, and furnace combustion system. Any problems they find will be included in their full report that they compile for you.

Negotiate the Purchase Terms

Once your home inspection report is compiled and your inspector submits it to you, you and your realtor can review it for issues with the home you want to buy so you can renegotiate the purchase terms, if necessary. You may find several minimal problems with the home, such as broken electrical plates or a non-working ceiling fan, but if there are more serious complications, such as damage to the floor joists or insufficient attic insulation, your realtor can help you submit an addendum to the purchase contract to request that the seller repair them or reduce the price in order for you to have them repaired once you take possession of the home.