Tips for House Hunting (hair salon, apartments, power lines)

[Ashburnite]

When you're looking to buy a home be sure to:

Check out the overall neighborhood and not just the individual house. For example, if you want to be near (or not near) families with children take a drive around the neighborhood during the afternoons or mornings to see what the activity is like. You may find you like the house but not the neighborhood.

Chat with any neighbors you see around and see what they think of the neighborhood or what they can tell you about it.

Check out the properties surrounding a house. If there is a big empty field behind the house, find out what might be planned for it in the future. Same goes for county/small roads. What is empty space now may end up being a strip mall, office building, hotel, hospital, or major road later.

Pay attention to how the houses and yards are maintained in the neighborhood. Are they well cared for or run down?

Note where overhead power lines are. If it will bother you to be near them, look somewhere else.

Research the crime rate and types of crime in the area.

Research the school districts if that is a consideration for you.

Think about the lay of the land: you may not want to be at the bottom of a big hill with your neighbor's house at the top looking down into your yard. This also applies to rain runoff - you don't want your yard to be the lowest point and have it swamp every time it rains.

Consider if you are very close to a lake or pond. While it can make for a nice view, there is the potential for more bugs and critters near your home.

Research any Homeowners Association rules and regulations. This applies to colors you can paint your house, types of exterior doors, landscaping, potential fences (including material and height), maintenance issues, etc. This also includes learning the rules about whether or not you can have a home based business such as a preschool, hair salon, or other business where people come and go from your house.

Consider the community amenities such as pools, parks, playgrounds, gyms, walking trails, etc. Also, if there is a walking trail and it runs right past your window, be aware of it.

Consider the noise level in the area in terms of road traffic noise and airplane traffic noise. Also consider the lighting in the area if you are near a shopping center, restaurants, or ball fields that will have lighted parking lots at night.

Research the commuting options in the area. Is there a subway, city bus, commuter bus, or ride-sharing available?

Pay attention to the landscaping and exterior of the home and your options for changing it if necessary. Too close to your neighbor? Maybe you can plant some evergreens to give some privacy and separation. Is the driveway very steep (and will the rain drain into your garage?) or are there a lot of outdoor steps (will you have to carry your groceries up a tall flight of stairs?)?


I'm sure there are many more things but this is a few I have found over the years.

[sarahkate_m]

Also, if there's vacant land OR acreage lots near your prospective home, go to the city planning office & check plans for future density.

See it with your own eyes. There's nothing as disappointing as 300 apartments with parking for 600 cars going in behind your house, replacing meadows.

Our agent gave us her verbal word that all the lots behind our house were zoned acreage lots only indefinitely. We never took her to task. There was no proof.

Kate