Author Topic: Starting our house hunting...  (Read 18045 times)

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Doombot

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Starting our house hunting...
« on: April 21, 2009, 11:37:36 PM »
Looking for bits of advice like: "Oh Geez... if I only knew THEN what I know now."

Like make sure to get it inspected, be wary of companies that only move the headstones, etc.
Will I get Night Owl points for quitting but not as much for getting fired?
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Loveshack

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Re: Starting our house hunting...
« Reply #1 on: April 21, 2009, 11:48:58 PM »
You know what radon is?  Nevermind, it's not too important.
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Chucara

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Re: Starting our house hunting...
« Reply #2 on: April 21, 2009, 11:49:43 PM »
Me and my girlfriend are getting a house once we've sold our apartment, so I'll listen in on any advice offered.

BlueCross

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Re: Starting our house hunting...
« Reply #3 on: April 21, 2009, 11:50:59 PM »
Cheapest house in best neighborhood is one way to maximize $ (or E) when reselling.

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Re: Starting our house hunting...
« Reply #4 on: April 22, 2009, 02:00:10 AM »
Like make sure to get it inspected

Make sure your inspector knows how to look for structural defects both inside and outside. Make sure he actually pokes around in areas rather than just eyeballing. If need be, a reputable contractor can be a better home inspector than a lot of people who go by the title of "home inspector".
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Loveshack

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Re: Starting our house hunting...
« Reply #5 on: April 22, 2009, 02:07:17 AM »
Like make sure to get it inspected

Make sure your inspector knows how to look for structural defects both inside and outside. Make sure he actually pokes around in areas rather than just eyeballing. If need be, a reputable contractor can be a better home inspector than a lot of people who go by the title of "home inspector".

Don't ask the realtor who they'd recommend, but that probably goes without saying.
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Sylvee Bee

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Re: Starting our house hunting...
« Reply #6 on: April 22, 2009, 02:21:13 AM »
hmmm, little things in my humble opinion?

1. ignore little things that you can easily fix. don't ignore a great house that has an ugly puke green bedroom. :D

2. pay attention to things you think won't annoy you...but later on down the road would cost money once you figure out they REALLY bug you
example for that one - you and the guy friend go into the kitchen together and open cupboards and the fridge and stuff - cause if the kitchen set up bugs you after 5 minutes, imagine how it's gonna feel after a few years. :D  (I've hated two homes I've had cause of how it was impossible to get around the kitchen when the fridge or dishwasher door were open)

*thumbs up* and good luck. :D
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Brugdor

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Re: Starting our house hunting...
« Reply #7 on: April 22, 2009, 02:41:13 AM »
Next time I'm over at my parent's place I'll ask them for any tips they could give. They own several homes and rent them out.

One thing I know for sure is that you should note how the land around the house is shaped. For Vegas it's probably not as big of a concern but my step-brother had a lot of problems in his first house here because the yard sloped down towards his back door. Anytime it rained he had issues with flooding there.
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AcdQueen89

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Re: Starting our house hunting...
« Reply #8 on: April 22, 2009, 03:19:27 AM »
i'd advise looking for a repossessed house (or whatever your supposed to call it). cost effective and logical for the times, and you might find something somewhere you wouldnt think to look otherwise.
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Jeff

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Re: Starting our house hunting...
« Reply #9 on: April 22, 2009, 03:44:12 AM »
You're going to want to look for a place with four walls and a roof. Less than 4 walls, and you may be buying a tent.

And I simply cannot stress the part about the roof enough.

edited for seriousness:

1) Make sure you get a buyer's agent who is looking out for your interests only, not the seller's

2) Get a pre-approved mortgage. Look at your finances so that you know what you can afford, and you know how far you can stretch to get that really nice place.

3) Go with your gut when looking at places. And don't be afraid to make snap decisions when viewing properties. Either you like it, or you don't. Also take notes, if you look at a lot of properties you'll never keep it all straight in your head.

4) I've heard that you can get good deals from short sales and repossessed properties, but it can be a bitch to get the bank to approve the sale.
« Last Edit: April 22, 2009, 04:02:48 AM by Jeff »

Tank

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Re: Starting our house hunting...
« Reply #10 on: April 22, 2009, 05:58:34 PM »
Definitely get someone to check the house for you for defects and whatnot. But when looking yourself, things like newly painted cielings, especialyl udner bathrooms, could be a good indicator of a leak that's been masked with a fresh batch of paint.

Property layout is everything. Consider when areas will be getting sun (north-set porches suck, they get much less sun than those facing south). As mentioned, hills and slopes eman a ton. Water-flow can make or rbeak a property easy. If you find a hosue you like, come back a rainy day and see how the water behaves around it, it can save you a lot grief later on.


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Brugdor

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Re: Starting our house hunting...
« Reply #11 on: April 22, 2009, 07:53:04 PM »
Talked to my parents today and all they said was to make sure you have the place inspected by someone that knows how to check for structural issues. That's already been mentioned so that input was fairly worthless.   :P
"When planning a new picture we don't think of grown ups and we don't think of children but just of that fine, clean, unspoiled spot down deep in every one of us that maybe the world has made us forget and that maybe our pictures can help recall." - Walt Disney

Tank

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Re: Starting our house hunting...
« Reply #12 on: April 22, 2009, 10:46:25 PM »
An addition to my rainy-day comment: go inside as well, go to the absement and attic, check windows, roof, walls for leaks or signs of becoming moist.


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Doombot

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Re: Starting our house hunting...
« Reply #13 on: April 22, 2009, 10:47:32 PM »
Thanks for the information so far.

I didn't consider the slope (landscape) rainwater aspect, the Syl-bees suggestion about being bugged, and the non-seller agent.

And thanks for the reminder about other things. Just cuz I didn't mention your input doesn't mean I don't find it valuable. =)
Will I get Night Owl points for quitting but not as much for getting fired?
Will I still be a member of the Owl's Pals? I'd hate to turn in my card. It's got a real owl feather under the lamination and everything.


Night Owl: Oh, indeed. I quit many a job ...better than being fired. You can keep your card... in fact, you get double points for quitting!


Night Owl

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Re: Starting our house hunting...
« Reply #14 on: April 23, 2009, 05:42:14 AM »
Most of the basics were covered - slope flooding, inspections, etc. The slope thing alone caused me to walk away from a property we were considering last year.

But here's the biggie:

Neighbors...

Look at the neighbors. Make note of the condition of their properties and yards, see if there are renters in the area, etc. Check to see if anyone has three ATV's parked alongside the garage, etc. Now, I mention renters not because I have anything against them (most of us were renters at one time), but because rental properties in a residential neighborhood are usually a pain. You never know when three college buds are gonna split the rent and have parties every Sat night. If you are looking in a place where renters will be (like a townhouse development, etc), see if there's some kind of homeowner's association or rules against that sort of thing.

I've known plenty of people with bad neighbors - there is almost nothing worse. Now, you can't control who moves in after you, but you can control who you move next to. If you like to smoke weed on the back porch (I know you don't, Jen, but it's an example) don't move next door to a cop. :)