There is a lot to think about when you are looking at houses. First you want to find a home that’s in an area that you love, and that’s near to where you spend a lot of your time. Then of course you want a home that speaks to you, that suits your needs and is comfortable financially. With each house you visit, you might ask yourself: does it have good flow, does it have good natural light? These are really important qualities in a home and if a house doesn’t have them already, it is not easy to get them without a fair amount of construction.
At the same time, you want to consider the structure and systems of the home, so that you have an understanding of the costs to maintain it once it is yours. Here are questions you will want to have answered prior to putting in an offer:
Age and condition of systems (HVAC, hot water heater, plumbing, electrical)?
Age and condition of roof?
Age and condition of appliances (if they are conveying)?
Any flooding in basement (if applicable)?
Cost for utilities (gas, water, electricity, oil) for past 6-12 months?
Any underground oil storage tank?
Annual property taxes? If in City of Richmond, is there any tax abatement in place?
Improvements the current owners have made to the property?
Building permit for additions, etc.?
Of course, once you put in a offer you will want to have the home thoroughly inspected prior to any deadlines specified in the contract. I will be posting more on the inspection process in the weeks to come, but please feel free to email or call me if I can be of help to you in the meantime.
