If you’re going to invest in a luxury home, you had better make sure that you choose the right one. While taking a walk-through of the house and getting an inspection beforehand can help, there are some other ways to make sure you get the right home for you. Here are the top five things to look for when choosing your house.
1: Location
The perfect home needs to be in the perfect area. Otherwise, you will find yourself in a great house but a city that leaves you ultimately unhappy. Do your research into the local area – what sort of activities there are, how the community will fit your family’s needs, and what sort of education and employment opportunities there are. Without a good area, even the best home in the world will come up short.
2: Situational Factors
Take a good look at the area around your home and consider ways that it might come into conflict with your lifestyle. Are the bedroom windows visible from the street? Would water runoff from up the hill affect the garden you want to plant? If you have kids, do you need to put in a fence to make sure they don’t play near the street? These considerations aren’t necessarily deal-breakers. Instead, they are areas where you should have a solution in mind before you commit to buying the home.
3: Age of the Building
On the one hand, older homes tend to have a lot of character, which is very desirable to most people. On the other hand, they also tend to have some older construction materials, such as lead paint, old wiring, and asbestos wraps on the pipes. Look into the history of your potential house. When was it bought? Has it been renovated? Repainted? If your home is from the early half of the 20th century or older, you should be more thorough with the inspection. Usually, potential problems can be identified and fixed during the negotiating process.
4: Plans for the Rooms
Before you sign on the dotted line, take stock of all the rooms in the house and make a plan for how you want to use them. Is there an extra bedroom in this home? If so, would it make a good home office, workout room, or study? Planning out a use for all your rooms will help you feel more attached to your potential house and will give you a way to get settled in right away.
5: Off-Tour Hours
What does the house and the neighborhood look like when the owner isn’t trying to show the place off? You should consider taking a drive-through or a walk by the home after taking the tour. Are the surroundings clean? How does the neighborhood look? Just a casual look around the area after you’ve been through the guided tour can tell you a lot about the neighborhood and about your potential new home.
With a little extra care and consideration, you can make sure that you’re luxury home is exactly what you want. These items will help you make sure that your investment is a solid one.