Valvano Real Estate Agency

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A Printable Buyer’s Checklist

Home Buying Tips ... that can help you prevent Co$tly mistakes.

Here are some things to keep in mind when in the market for a new home. One of the biggest mistakes that a home buyer can make is to continue to look for that "ideal" house while passing up perfectly good houses in the process. If this is your first house, chances are it will not be the last one that you will buy. As you delay your purchase, home prices will probably continue to rise and quite possibly, interest rates will too.

Having stated that, you should not rush into the biggest financial transaction of your life without careful consideration. For this reason, we have highlighted most of the major items that you need to consider when looking to buy. With good planning, you can join the millions of other families who own their own homes and are taking advantage of the many benefits that are available to home owners.

Starting with the obvious: LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION !!

What kinds of things are important to you? Will you be near stores, schools, parks, restaurants, theaters, supermarkets? Do you mind being on a busy street or would you rather be on a quiet cul-de-sac? Is the house near public transportation? How far is it to work?

HOME BUYING PREFERENCES: Please print the below form to help you determine your most important needs as you view prospective homes.

Rate each of the following as: A – absolute necessity, B - high priority, C – wouldn’t mind-if the price was right, D – doesn’t matter, F- do not want.

Style of house - one story, two story, split level, etc.
___ Size of yard
___ Number of bedrooms
___ Number of baths
___ Bath in master bedroom
___ Eat-in kitchen
___ Separate dining room
___ Basement [Do you want a finished basement?]
___ Fireplace
___ Garage [1 car, 2 car, etc]
___ Windows in the kitchen
___ Windows in the bathrooms
___ Plenty of sunlight in the other rooms
___ Maintenance free windows, gutters, trim, siding
___ Lots of closet space [walk-in closets]
___ Adequate storage [attic, crawl space, etc.]
___ Trees on the property and in the neighborhood
___ Children in the neighborhood
___ Air-conditioning
___ Type of heating system
___ Porch or deck
___ Dishwasher, garbage disposal
___ City water or well water
___ Septic system or sewers
___ Fuse Box or Circuit Breakers

EXAMINING THE HOME

Note: If any of the following items are unacceptable, it doesn't necessarily mean that you should not buy the house. You can negotiate the cost of the repairs and/or negotiate the price.

Remember, there is no such thing as a perfect house. As any home owner will tell you, something is always in need of fixing or upgrading. What you want to do is protect yourself from any unexpected large expenses. You should also arrange for a home inspection to be made by a professional prior to your purchase.

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