Indianapolis Homes: Buyer Checklist
Posted by ICON Realty Team on Monday, November 26th, 2012 at 8:47am.
Are you planning to purchase a home sometime in the near future? If so, it is important to have a clear idea of what things to look for and what issues to address before and during the purchase process. After all, purchasing a home is a major investment. As such, you want to be certain you are making a good decision. To that end, here are a few things to include on your buyer checklist.
Getting to Know the Neighborhood
It is easy to fall in love with a house, but it is essential to pay just as much attention to the neighborhood in which the house is located. Whether looking for Indianapolis real estate or Washington DC real estate, the help of a knowledgeable agent may help immensely here. Some questions to ask yourself regarding the neighborhood include:
- How close is the home to shopping facilities, medical facilities, schools, places of employment and other important businesses and facilities?
- How do local property taxes compare to the taxes in similar areas?
- What types of fire and police services are located within the neighborhood?
- Are any hazardous waste sites, air pollution industries or other annoyances located in or around the property?
Getting Familiar with the Property
If the neighborhood meets your criteria, the next item on your checklist is the property on which the home is located. Some questions to ask include:
- What is the age and condition of the home as compared to other homes in the neighborhood? - Is the home located on a site that is free from flooding?
- Does the property have the proper drainage in place?
- What zoning laws and deed restrictions affect the property?
- Are the walkways, steps and driveways in good condition?
- Is the home oriented in the way that will allow for the maximum protection from rain, wind, sunlight and other natural elements?
- Has the landscaping been properly maintained?
- Does the yard provide enough privacy and space? Inspecting Major Systems and Structures
While a home inspection will provide you with more information regarding your homeís major systems and structures, you can easily check many of these things when you visit the home. Some questions to ask yourself regarding the major systems and structures include:
- Do the doors and windows open and close without sticking?
- Have trees or shrubs been planted so close to the home that they could cause damage to the foundation?
- How does the condition of the shingles compare to the condition of the shingles on other homes in the neighborhood?
- Do multiple layers of roof appear to be present?
- Is there storage space available in the attic?
- How old is the furnace and the air conditioning system?
- Is the ductwork in good condition?
- Does the electrical system in the home have at least 100 amp service?
- Are light switches and outlets conveniently located?
- Is a main shut off valve available for the houseís plumbing?
- Does the tub contain an access panel?
- How large is the septic tank (if applicable)?
- Is there a history of wood rot or termite infestation?
About The Author - Kevin Koitz is a Washington DC native and Realtor. Learn more about Luxury DC real estate news on the Koitz Group Blog.
Hello and welcome to the Indianapolis Real Estate blog for ICON Realty Partners, LLC. We hope you enjoy our thoughts on relevant local and national real estate stories. We welcome anyone; buyers, sellers, journalists, or real estate professionals to share your thoughts by commenting below each entry.
The ICON Team
ICON Realty Partners, LLC
Indianapolis Real Estate
Phone: 317-572-7728
Blog Tags
Print
ShareBe the first to comment on this blog entry!
Leave a Comment
How Renting To Own May Help You
Any investment involves risk, be it a shortsighted clothing purchase or auto financing – buy an ill-fitting garment and...
5Comments Read MoreIndianapolis Homes: Buyer Checklist
Are you planning to purchase a home sometime in the near future? If so, it is important to have a clear idea of what things t...
7Comments Read MoreBuying a Home and Relocating
Guest Blog Post By P2P RelocationOne of the most stressful life choices we can make involves relocating yours (...
3Comments Read MoreWe're always on the lookout for talented real estate agents to join our growing team.
Contact Us
