How to determine if a house is a good house (first-time homebuyer) (real estate, buying)

[noblerare]

Hi, I am a first-time homebuyer and I need some advice as to how to determine whether or not a house is a good house.

I look at listings on Redfin or Zillow and have a hard time differentiating between the average ones and the truly great ones.

I find myself getting caught up in things like wallpaper, counters, or whether or not this appliance exists or not.

I think I know to focus more on the foundation, condition of the basement, and roof but I don't know how to do that practically.

Is there any advice or resources that you all can point me to to increase my knowledge on figuring out if a home is worth looking at/buying?

[Moby Hick]

You should kick the tires.

[tyovan4]

Originally Posted by noblerare

Hi, I am a first-time homebuyer and I need some advice as to how to determine whether or not a house is a good house.

I look at listings on Redfin or Zillow and have a hard time differentiating between the average ones and the truly great ones.

I find myself getting caught up in things like wallpaper, counters, or whether or not this appliance exists or not.

I think I know to focus more on the foundation, condition of the basement, and roof but I don't know how to do that practically.

Is there any advice or resources that you all can point me to to increase my knowledge on figuring out if a home is worth looking at/buying?

Look at the sellers disclosure forms and look at the age of things such as the roof, furnace, etc. Look at known problems that are disclosed.

[chessimprov]

Go with a realtor who has a contact of a contractor to look at a place you're interested in.

[svband76]

Post your interested listing here and we'll chime in.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by zalewskimm

Post your interested listing here and we'll chime in.

Oh! Yes! I love being nebby!

[safak]

If there is anything major a half decent realtor can tell immediately (so about 3% of them).

Its tough to have a 'bad house' to be honest, but its easy to pay a 'bad price' for it.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by Moby Hick

You should kick the tires.

Doesn’t sound like he chooses to live in a trailer.

[szug-bot]

Originally Posted by chessimprov

Go with a realtor who has a contact of a contractor to look at a place you're interested in.

i was going to suggest he find his own inspectors. pay them to do a once-over.

some realtors might just take on a church or social club buddy who is a "roof inspectors" that doesnt actually do a thorough roof inspection - or lie outright and never even get out a ladder. I speak from experience.

how do you know you have a "good" house? educate yourself on looking at the less obvious things - is there a barrier (bed of gravel, a line drain, etc.) at the lower edge of the outer walls. Look at the soffits - do they look warped, damaged...? look at the owner history at the County Real Estate site (although i am not sure what this might tell you about the condition of the house).

what else.....ah, SMELL the basement, garage, and other areas that might be below ground level. does it smell musty?

get back to this thread with questions or concerns - the people here are amazing at their knowledge of real estate and home buying!

one last thing - look at the lintels of the garage door, windows, etc. look also at the mortar on the outer brick walls - do you see bowing in the lintels? popping out of the mortar - or worse, "zig zag" separation (this occurs now and then in Brookline - ive seen it). this kind of gap in the mortar could mean differential settling (over a mine?) or insufficiently compacted ground....

by the way - you looking at new(ish) construction, or a typical old Pgh house?

GOOD LUCK, young man!

[guy2073]

Never ever use the realtors inspector. I am not a fan of home inspectors in general but a realtors inspector has an interest in the closing going through without a hitch.