Very rarely is a home perfect in every way to suit your needs.   So house hunting becomes a search of compromise of getting the most of what you want, the most of what the rest of your family needs without giving up the dream of a "near perfect home".  Many times it becomes a give and take.  Sometimes it is updates, room size, extra amenities, closets, garage, yard,or basements that are the determining factor whether you buy a home.
      Below are some questions that you should be asking yourself as you go through homes.  This will help you decide whether the house fits you, whether it needs work,  whether you can live with it as is for a while, what may need changing, upgrading, or major work.  You should make a home inspection a part of purchase agreement and your final decision. 
      You should rule out a house for something that you can't live with, or can't change.
You should have a budget or time frame on what you can change in your future house.  Let's say you have a budget of $5000 that you would be able to spend in the next few years to fix up the house.  You do not rule out the house with a leaky faucet because of it.  You rule out the house that is going to take $10,000 of carpeting to replace.  Step back and think about the room without the horrible paint color or wall paper.  Can you live in it if it was painted a different color?  Do you have the ability to paint or remove the wallpaper?  Unfortunately over the years I have seen people rule out good houses because of simple items such as wallpaper or paint color and buy a home that was less valuable.  
      By answering these questions and writing down the good and bad points of each house will help you compare houses.  Write them down as you go through them.
       
Inside
   
           What is the square footage?  This is one of the most important factors.  A 2850 sq ft is worth more than a 2700 sq ft house at the same price.  Is it usable square footage?  Do you like the layout?

             How does the house and basement smell?  Is it mil-dewy,  smell of dog or cat urine?

             How is the kitchen is it updated?   Is an open layout?  Does it have the counter space you need?  Does it have the closet space you need?  Do you need a pantry?  Does it have the window or lighting you want?  Does it have a dishwasher?  What appliances stay with it?  How is the counter top?  Are they granite, corian, SSV, or Formica?  Are the doors and drawers workable? 

              Flooring. 
                                Are there cracked ceramic tiles?  Can you live with the color of the ceramic tile.  Has the ceramic tiles been updated or is it original?  How is the grouting?  

                                Is the carpeting worn in certain places?  Is it shag and need to be replaced?  Is the color atrocious that would make necessary to be replaced?  Is the carpeting stained?  Is there cat or dog urine stains on the floor?

                                Is there hardwood floors under the carpeting?  Do they need refinishing?  Are they dented? 

               Bathrooms- Have they been updated?  How do the tub & sinks look?  The counter tops?  Does it have a  whirlpool or jetted tub?  How many bathrooms does it have and is there enough on each floor?  Showers are they big enough for you?  Enough counter space or sinks for you?  Big enough Medicine closet or closet for towels?

               Are the room sizes what you can use?  Are some of over sized over sized?  Can you fit your furniture in them?  Is the layout of the rooms good for you?  Are they on the right floor?  ie can you live with the laundry in the basement?
 
              How are the windows?  Have they been updated?  Is there steam moisture mositure between the panes of glass.  Are there any windows?

             Do the bedrooms have the closet space you need?  Do any of them have walk-in walkin closet?

            Do certain rooms need to be painted because of the different paint color?  Are the walls scuffed, dented or cracked?   Do they need drywall work?  Is there wallpaper that has to come off?  Can you live with it at first?

           The woodwork - Does it need to be painted?  Are there extra large moldings and/or crown molding that would make it a bonus.

           Is there a fireplace?  Is it gas or natural?  Can it be converted over?

          Basement?  Is it a walkout or is it finished?  Both are bonuses?  Is there signs of leaks in the walls?  Look at the ceiling?  Are there signs of leaks there?  Is it open layouts or does it have rooms?  Can you use those rooms?  How does the furnace and hot water tank look?  New or old?            

             

Outside
               How does it sound?  Is there traffic noises?  Kids screaming?  School Noise? Airplane Noise? Train Noise? Industrial Noise?

              What do the neighbor's houses and yards look like?  What can you see from your yard?  Can you see industrial  buildings, churches, parking lots, shopping centers?

              How is the traffic out front?  Is there a school nearby?

             Are there overgrown trees or bushes that need to be taken down?  How is the fence or shed?  How is the lawn, the landscaping?  These are minor, minor items.

            Is there standing water on the property? 

            How is the driveway and the garage door?  How is the concrete work?  Is it cracked or uneven?  Is is asphalt?  

            How does the roof look?  Are there plants growing out of the gutters?  How does the chimney look?  Loose bricks anywhere?

            How is the paint job? Does it need painting?  Does it need caulking? What does the vinyl or aluminum siding look like?  

            Can you fix what you see easily enough to make it your home?     
   

Looking for the best value in Novi Real Estate? Looking for homes in Oakland County?  Searching for a house in Michigan?  Thinking of relocating to Wayne County, Livingston County, ?               

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