PROPERTY HISTORY
This might not have been something you would have considered in checking out your new potential home, but the home’s history—sales history, length of time on the market, public records (age of home, mortgage history, previous sales, property deeds and taxes, liens, etc.—are all important pieces of valuable information that can save you money or prevent you from making a major mistake. Your real estate agent will play a big role here, too, as they can generally access more information than you could on your own—even if you’re technologically minded and can get some good research done online, your agent is an invaluable source of information!
VIEW AGAIN, BUT NOT ALONE
It’s actually good practice to view the home that you believe is “the one”—the new home that meets all your needs and hits most of your wants—multiple times. If you do this, especially with your agent alongside you, you are much more likely to discover certain things, positive and negative, if you come back with “fresh eyes.” Maybe you’ll notice something you didn’t before, which could sway your decision in either direction. One tip is to try viewing the prospective new home at different times during the day. This helps to give you a better idea of, and a clearer picture of, what it will be like to live in that home and in that area in the morning, afternoon, evening. What’s the traffic like? Are there a lot of stray animals around? How safe does the neighborhood feel? How busy and noisy is it? These last two questions are particularly important for homeowners who are downsizing as they enter retirement and their senior years. They have valid concerns about safety and security, as well as noise levels, and you as a buyer absolutely need
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