It Pays to Ask Questions when Shopping for a Home

Home Buyers often look at dozens of homes before finding the one that fits the bill. In order to avoid unpleasant surprises after you've moved in, you'll need to get answers to some direct questions.

How? The Financing Question
First and foremost is financing. It's always wise to have already visited your credit union for pre-qualification on your home loan. This way you will have a good idea of the costs associated with buying a house, and you'll have a price range in mind that will fit your budget. Call your credit union's loan department and set up an interview. It is the logical first step.

Where? The Neighborhood Question
It's on to shopping. For each home you consider, you should take a good look at the neighborhood. Think of your needs and whether or not they will be easily met. Is the home convenient to shopping, public transportation, schools, parks or recreational facilities? Now look closer. Are many homes in the area for sale? If so, why? Are there any rezoning plans in the near future that may affect the value of the home? And don't overlook the obvious resources - If you know someone that already lives in the neighborhood, be sure to ask them what they like and dislike about living there.

What? The Exterior and Interior Question
There are a lot of things to look at, and since you will be visiting a lot of homes in the shopping phase, you may want to take some notes. What is the size and age of the house? Consider the size of the lot, the landscaping, and the structural condition. Does the roof leak, or does the basement flood? On the inside, you may want to make some crude sketches of the floor plan. How many rooms, bathrooms, and bedrooms are there? Is there adequate storage space? Is the kitchen functional? What appliances are built in? Is the basement finished? Is there central air conditioning? What is the quality level of the building materials? You should also check insulation and whether or not there are storm windows. Many sellers will have information sheets on their house, but that shouldn't dissuade you from asking these questions anyway.

What else? Some Remaining Questions
Not everything you'll want to know about a house will be in plain view. How old is the home? How many previous owners have there been? How long has the home been on the market? Are the heating and cooling, electrical, and plumbing systems in operating order? What is the fuel used to heat the house? What are the average utility costs? Once you have the house inspected, you will get many of these answered by a professional. But it's always good to get these answers up-front on homes that are serious contenders for your money.