When looking at different homes for sale, there is a lot to consider. Homebuyers, of course, want to compare prices, square footage, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and many similar items. They shouldn't just look at the homes themselves, however. If you're looking at two or more homes for sale, make sure to also look beyond the houses before you select which one you want. Here are some of the other things you should check.
Talk with the Neighbors
No one wants to live next to terrible neighbors. They can make even the nicest houses unbearable.
Thankfully, it's easy to find out what the next door neighbors of homes that you're considering are like. Just go up to their door, knock and introduce yourself. See whether you think you can get along with them. While they can sell their home at any time, in which case you'd get new neighbors that you don't have any control over, introducing yourself to the current neighbors will at least help you decide if you like them.
Check the School
Even if you don't have any children, look into the local elementary, junior high and high school. If the nearby schools aren't strong, you might find that only people who don't have children are interested in the house when you go to sell it. This could significantly limit the number of potential buyers you'd have should you ever want to sell.
Look Up Building Plans
If you're purchasing a home for the neighborhood, you'll want to know about any significant changes to that neighborhood that are planned. Once you own a home in the neighborhood, you'll be a member of the community and have a voice about proposed changes. You may not, however, be able to fight changes that have already been approved, such as building projects that are already underway.
To find out whether there are any significant plans to build in the neighborhood, check with the local government to see if any building permits have been issued or any projects proposed. The local city, town or county office should have any permits on file, and any proposed projects should be recorded in their meetings' minutes.
Read Through the HOA's Documents
If a home you're looking at is in a subdevelopment that has a homeowners association (HOA), you'll need to abide by the HOA's rules. Should you fail to, you could face significant fines. Depending on what you'd like to do after purchasing a home, you should check to see whether the home's HOA permits the following:
- Maintaining a home office or home-based business
- Installing a swimming pool, fence, deck or similar feature
- Keeping boats, campers or other trailers on the property
- Renting the house to tenants
Even if you aren't interested in renting the home right now, you should check if it's a possibility. If you ever have trouble selling the home in the future, you may decide you want to rent it out for a little while until a suitable buyer comes along. This will only be an option if the HOA permits renting, and, according to Rebecca Law & Associates, LLC, many HOAs have tried to amend their documents to restrict renting over the past 10 years.
Research the Land Between a Home and Any View
If you're purchasing a home for its view, check to see what land is between you and the view that's so nice. If the land is protected for wildlife or a cemetery, it's unlikely that anyone will eventually build on it. If there's any land that can be developed, however, someone may one day build a house or other building that obstructs your view. Unless you own it or it's protected some way, expect the land surrounding your home to eventually be built on.
