Buying a home can be exciting. It’s a major life achievement that entitles you to become a proud homeowner as soon as you step into your new space. However, home ownership comes with its fair share of responsibilities. From purchasing warranties to conducting home inspections and considering resale value, there are a lot of things to ponder when buying a home.
Without further ado, here are the top 6 things to consider when purchasing a home:
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Home Location
A good location can be the single most important determinant of buying a house. As much as you like that particular house, it’s not feasible to buy it if it’s poorly located. Ideally, a good location is one that has strong transport links, community involvement, and well-ranked educational institutions.
Proximity to your workplace, shopping malls, and even good hospitals are also important determinants of a good locality. Moreover, it is also important to consider your neighborhood when making this decision. A neighborhood is more appealing when it has community spaces and parks, large trees, and a good overall landscape.
Home Warranty
Home warranties don’t cover the same things as home insurance, so it’s important to consider them when buying a home. Having a home warranty means you have a contract covering all major appliances and systems in case they need a repair or replacement. With a home warranty, you can have peace of mind knowing that unexpected appliance or system breakdowns are going to be covered.
Otherwise, you would end up paying for them out of your pocket. Real estate agents may even help buyers like you negotiate a home warranty for a year or two from the seller. Either way, it’s best to obtain a home warranty from trusted names such as Cinch. These brands have different coverage options depending on your requirement.
Home warranty company, Cinch Home Services also has this great blog post on “best furnace brands 2023 made simple”, helping their clients out when purchasing a new home.
Home Inspection
Before you close in on your dream home, it’s important to consider having a house inspection done. While it isn’t an obligation to obtain a mortgage loan, it can definitely save you from costly expenses in the future.
A pre-purchase home inspection allows buyers to have a professional investigate all the issues with a particular home they are interested in buying. Any structural problems, electrical or plumbing issues, etc., will be discovered in a home inspection. Use this information to negotiate repairs or even a lower purchase price for the property.
Home Insurance
Don’t wait to buy home insurance until after you’ve moved into your property. In fact, it’s ideal to have your homework done regarding different insurance policies available. With a home insurance policy, you will be able to protect your home and obtain coverage for damages inside and out.
Uncertain events that cannot be predicted, such as floods, earthquakes, and other disasters can occur at any time. A home insurance policy ensures you are protected from them by providing compensation for your losses.
Resale value
Even if you don’t plan on selling your property in the future, it’s important to buy one with good resale value. Properties with good resale values are helpful in protecting your investment over the years.
When you buy a property with a good resale value, it will eventually help you sell it off easily whenever it’s time. Selling properties with poor resale value is a real headache anyways. There are several factors that impact a property’s resale value, such as location, age, the real estate market, and even the condition of the home.
Affordability
Home affordability is more than just considering the purchase price of a property. When you become a house owner, ongoing expenses are also an important consideration to make. Utilities, maintenance, repair, and even property taxes are to be paid for. You must have an adequate budget for these things.
Moreover, purchasing a home in a community means you will also be subject to homeowner association fees. While this fee is present to cover maintenance, landscaping, and similar expenses, it’s important to review the amount before finalizing the property.
Size and Layout
Lastly, consider the size and layout of your prospective house before making any decisions. For instance, consider your preference regarding the lot size, type and the length of driveway you require, amongst other things.
Next, consider how many beds and bathrooms the property has. Don’t base your decision on current family members only. Have some margin for any future additions such as children or spouses of your children. Extra bedrooms are also preferable to double as play areas, study rooms, and even guest rooms.
