evening). This will give you an even bigger and clearer picture of what living there, in that neighborhood and on that street, will be like. Traffic, busyness, noise, safety, neighbors, and animals are all factors you can pay attention to. Note: Don’t go out viewing homes — especially the same property multiple times — on your own. Let your agent do their job! First, there’s a security issue in visiting unoccupied houses by yourself. Further, doing this could make you vulnerable in other ways. For example, a seller’s agent could think you don’t have representation, and then try to take advantage of you as a buyer. Let’s say you find a property that really piques your interest, but your agent hasn’t told you about it. Don’t be tempted to go “under the radar” and check out the property yourself; there’s a reason your agent hasn’t told you about it, and it’s likely because it doesn’t meet your basic criteria. If you still think you want to view it, give the address and listing agent’s number to your agent, and let your agent do their job. They will do all the contacting and arrange for a property viewing so that together, you can check out the property with the owners away and your agent present.
EXAMINE THE CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY
Sometimes buyers aren’t exactly sure what to look for when conducting a full inspection of a home before making the big decision to pass or to make an offer. Of course, there are the obvious items — such as what you’ve written down on your list of needs and wants — but there are other items to be on the lookout for, the primary one being the condition of the property. Your agent will obviously be there to guide you and make sure everything is checked out, but here’s a short list to get you started: • Is the home structurally sound? Look for loose or broken tiles on the roof, water damage, drywall damage, floor weakness, bowing or cracked walls, etc. Feel free to ask
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