House Hunting: Answering Your Questions
As my bitch-tweets indicate entirely too often, we are hunting for our new home. (I've taken down more than a few regarding "flipper" asshats.) But these tweets have also lead to questions from you, new readers. If you don't mind, I will link this page in my DM replies. It makes it easier on me while providing you with even broader knowledge about the process. I don't have the comments turned on. You can always pester me via DM if you're a follower/followee of me on Twitter.
This article leans towards finding your forever home.
I honestly never gave much thought towards where my health would be thirty years down the line. Sadly, I see too many homes go on the market because their elderly owners have difficulty managing stairs, or wheelchair ramps can't be installed due to a small lot size, or there's no room on the main floor for a makeshift bedroom (or even enough room for a hospital bed should you have the fortune of being allowed to pass away at home rather than alone in a hospice facility).
I learned these precautionary lessons when we moved in to my parent's house to take care of my elderly father. The house's floor plan made his final years so damn difficult for him. He couldn't get through some doorways with his wheelchair. The potty chair near his bed (in the living room) was difficult to reach in a hurry. My mother wanted to watch TV in the living room until 10pm though he wanted to go to bed by 8. He needed his sheets and pants washed almost daily, and the washer and dryer are in the basement, making it difficult for my elderly mother to get them done.
This is why my quest may differ from yours. We seek a single story with full basement, or a two-story with a bathroom on the main floor. A washer and dryer on the main floor is a bonus. We will eventually put in a ramp that meets ADA compliance.
We also want to get our old lifestyle back. A nice kitchen is a must. And fencing would make life easier for the dogs. A mature tree, space to garden, and a deck would be lovely. It's crucial that the house come with all the necessary appliances (range, refrigerator, washer, dryer) as we don't have the extra funds to pay for them; we will continue to pay the mortgage on my mother's home.
So, let's give this a go:
The Five Essentials
1. Before you do anything else, get pre-approved for a mortgage!
Don't
waste your time, your real estate agent's time, and the seller's time
hunting for something that you can't get financing for.
2. Consider your own needs and desires when looking for your home.
You might need extra room for kids or grandkids. Write down what you want, and let your agent know what you need. Keep looking rather than settle for something that doesn't meet your needs.
3. Sit down and figure out how much you can afford, and then stick to that price.
You don't want to be house-poor, meaning you can scrape up the mortgage but are screwed if you need money for an emergency. Be mindful of the "extras" that go into a monthly mortgage payment, such as taxes kept in escrow, or insurance. Also keep abreast of interest rates; they've been climbing drastically over the last few weeks.
4. Find an agent willing to work for and with you.
Yes, keep an eye on Zillow or Realtor.com, but your agent needs to earn their keep. It's on them to help find the perfect home for you. They network with the seller's agent. They sniff out disclosures that haven't been made public. They are your go-between when you make offers, and advise if you end up in a bidding war. You should feel comfortable with them. After all, this is the person you're trusting to do you a solid.
5. Don't be a desperate buyer.
My mother falls into that lot. She
refused all my advice when looking for a home. She looked only a few
days and settled on one that was cheaper than the others around it. I
pointed out flaws which she ignored. The inspector pointed out even more
flaws. The house has a shower stall ready to fall through the damn
kitchen ceiling, a broken sewer pipe damaging the backyard soil and
foundation, and knob and tube wiring stuffed into a fuse box with just a
few fuses in place. Good grief. She had weeks to find a new home. Months, even. They were living with us at the time, having just moved out from Colorado.
Before I even start on the red flags to watch out for, I need to highlight the golden rule of real estate: Get the home inspected before purchase. Make certain your contract explicitly states that the sale is contingent upon the results of that inspection.
The 7 10 Red Flags
There are more than 7 potential red flags, of course. Let's start with Desert Heroes' [abbreviated to DH] list. You can find the link below or by clicking the above image. I've added my 2¢ to these.
1. There are no or very few photos of the home's interior.
Man, this is my pet peeve. I have walked into homes with the ceiling coating the floor. The agents won't photograph the flaws that would negate you looking at the property to begin with. However, I have also walked into homes that were immaculate but the agent was too lazy to take and upload images.
DH recommends contacting your agent to inquire about more pictures. Some agents have access to these. My WV agent was able to send me more than a dozen for a home we're viewing tomorrow; the listing doesn't include those pictures.
Alternatively, agents use a fisheye lens. To quote Wikipedia, "A fisheye lens is an ultra wide-angle lens that produces strong visual distortion intended to create a wide panoramic or hemispherical image." It makes the room look bigger than it actually is.
Look at the full listing. Some offer dimensions for the rooms. If you have a hard time visualizing these, think of your mattress. King and Queen mattresses are 80" long, and a Full mattress is around 75". That equates to around 6.6'.
2. Many nearby homes are also for sale.
This isn't always a red flag, especially in my neck of the woods. A steel mill shuts down a furnace or a coke plant is going to close... people flee the area in droves. No jobs means no livelihood. They have to sell.
DH recommends being your own sleuth. Why are those homes all selling? Is it from rising crime rates, or a school closure, or some other factor that will greatly impact living in that neighborhood? A highway or train tracks being constructed near the property?
I recall the fateful day a major sewage pipe broke. It poured raw excrement, rancid toilet paper, rotting food, and a bevy of other foul things down the hill backing a middle-class neighborhood. It continued for more than an hour. The initial deluge could be cleaned up from backyards and in-ground pools, inside the homes, and so on. However, these homes were on slab foundations that became compromised due to the amount of seepage. Cracks began to form as the years went by. Rather than being honest and disclosing the incident, the neighborhood bugged out.
3. The house is being sold at a bargain price.
People, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Your mileage may vary, though.
DH explains that homes under your budget might be priced below market value because they are very flawed or require expensive fixes.
In my neck of the woods, we have a lot of elderly passing away. Their kids live out-of-state or else don't want to be bothered by maintaining taxes on that home. The interior might have horrid carpets and appliances older than you are. That inexpensive home might be nestled in a neighborhood of young people with money to put towards new siding, new carpet, etc. Don't be afraid to look at these homes. Again, get the home inspected before purchase.
Then there are "flippers". These fuckwhistles look for bargain homes and spend a few thousand putting lipstick on a pig. You can have ten pretty pigs surrounding a cheap home. Do your homework. Do an address search. Ask your agent. Use the "property history" function on Realtor.com. If it was sold at a low price a month ago and is back on the market with a high price tag, it's probably a lipstick flip.
Pay close attention to these recently flipped homes. Freshly painted walls hide discoloration caused by water. Pretty new flooring masks actual holes in the sub floor. Painted cabinets hide rotted or damaged wood.
4. Odd odors inside and outside the home.
Lots of things can make a home stick. Use your imagination. Those smells aren't going to go away, most likely. And DH is spot on when it comes to scented candles or cones in every room. Beware.
I take this one step further. Look at what heats the house as well as water supply and sewer systems. Is that stank from an oil tank stored in the basement or outside the home? Does this home have problems with its septic tank? Is the well contaminated? Are there black smudges above the registers? Does a room smell like ozone? (Look at the outlets for this one, and make sure there isn't black smudge above or around them.)
I always, ALWAYS skip homes with septic, well, or oil. Look back at #3 here; the owners may not disclose that the septic tank is leaking or there is a problem with the oil tank.
5. Cracks in the foundation... and creaky floors.
Small cracks happen over time, especially in homes built decades ago. Larger cracks (or recently repaired cracks) tell a story, especially when accompanied by cracks in the walls and ceilings. Your inspector can clarify what these cracks mean, and whether or not you should be concerned.
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| FamilyHandyman.com |
Floors creak in older homes, as do stairs. But they sometimes feel "soft" instead of firm. Find out why.
Finding metal posts bracing a major, load-bearing beam in a basement or crawlspace is a concern. I expect to see these when I view homes built before 1940. I don't want to see them on homes built in the 50, 60s, 70s, etc.
This doesn't mean you should skip purchasing an old house with one or two of these things in the basement. When installed correctly, they extend the life of that house for many years.
If in doubt of correct installation, your house inspector can assess it for you.
6. Poor drainage or any signs of water damage.
This is a major factor when choosing your home.
My OH agent and I toured a house recently. "The owner says it gets a bit damp," he said as we climbed down stairs to the basement. We both stood there with shocked faces as two streams made their way from one wall to the next. The owners did not disclose a major drainage issue. The cheapest fix was estimated at $2k. The proper fix would run $5k and require large equipment in order to excavate the slope properly to put in a swale. It was a deal-breaker. We couldn't afford that up front. I'm still heartbroken over it.
Poor drainage compromises your foundation. Prior water damage may be an indication of damage yet to come.
Look at the gutters and downspouts. Your inspector should assess them once he's on the roof.
Use your nose. A cosmetic fix can easily cover up black mold spreading in the walls, making it your problem after closing.
Yeah, nobody wants this. Termites are a primary concern but there are other insects that damage homes and make your life hell. Pests, such as mice, can be a health hazard. Opossums or raccoons in your attic tear up insulation. Birds do serious damage to property if they manage to tear material between the roof and gutters to gain entry into the structure.
Familiarize yourself with the clues unwanted beasties leave behind so you won't have to face expensive remedies once the home is yours.
8. Visually check the roof.
Does it sag? Are shingles missing? Is the material old and wearing thing? Do you see any rotting material?
9. Make sure there are no outstanding balances for utilities!
This red flag is nearly impossible to catch. Call the service provider/s, explain that you're interest in the house, and give them the address. Some providers expect YOU to pay off
outstanding balances before letting you open a new account.
This happened to me when a group of us decided to rent a house. The prior tenant vanished without telling the landlord or utility company. The landlord was gracious and paid off that massive outstanding balance. Whew!
10. Homeowners associations.
These are a fucking pain in the ass. For example, do you need their permission to put up a fence for your doggos? Do they allow certain breeds such as pibbles? Are doorbell/security cameras allowed? How many vehicles are you allowed to park? Do they need to approve additions or bump-outs? How much do they cost per month, or quarterly, or annually? Find out before you make an offer.
Looking for tips? "The Seven Potential Red Flags to Watch Out For When House Hunting" offers solid advice. Their tips encompass many of my own.
Please check out the Desert Heroes Team blog for more information. Military Family? They can help in both Phoenix and Tucson.
The Desert Heroes Team is uniquely qualified to help military families navigate the complexities of buying or selling a home. We believe that our client’s lives are enriched by a deep connection with their community and our desire to be the bridge transcends the real estate transaction.
Our vision is for every military family to experience a smooth and enjoyable moving transition, find a home that they love, and connection to a thriving community. We are tireless champions of our military service members. We honor your sacrifice by helping you find a place to truly feel at home.
Looking to sell or buy? Although my agents are not with eXp, the agency itself seems to have a solid reputation. They are headquartered in Bellingham, Washington, but they may have agents in your area of the US. You can contact them via https://exprealty.com/