Buying a new home can be an exciting process, especially for first-time homebuyers or those who are expanding their families, need more space, or are relocating. Sometimes we purchase older homes and other times we have homes custom-built or purchase new construction homes. Whatever you choose to do, buying a new home is quite the adventure!
From showings to making an offer and signing your name many, many times, the process of purchasing a home involves many steps. Before you purchase a home you need to tour the home you’re interested in. It can be an exciting and overwhelming process if you’re not sure what you should be looking for during a showing. Keep reading to learn what to look for when buying a new home so you can be better prepared before you purchase.
Square Footage
While those professional and beautifully edited photos of the home’s exterior and interior on realtor websites grab our attention first, something you’ll want to keep in mind when buying a new home is the square footage. Before you fall in love with photos of the kitchen or backyard, pay attention to the size of the home. Is the square footage enough for your family? Is it too small for your family? You can always tell your realtor the square footage you’re looking for so you don’t waste time looking at homes that aren’t ideal for your family.
Home’s Exterior
The first thing to grab a homebuyer’s attention is the home’s exterior. Whether it’s a timeless older home with unique architecture or a newer build with custom windows, a home’s exterior is the first thing to catch the buyer’s eyes. There are many components of a home’s exterior: the roof, gutter system, landscaping, siding, garage, etc. It’s important to note the condition of the home’s exterior and whether or not things need to be replaced.
For example, is the roof in great shape, or are there missing shingles? Is the gutter system in good shape or is it sagging from the home or corroding? Does the home’s siding have damage? There’s a lot to inspect when it comes to the exterior of a home but it’s important to look for damage. You don’t want to put in an offer that’s close to the asking price if the roof needs to be replaced or if the gutter system is in poor shape.
Have the Home Inspected
As previously mentioned, it’s important to note any damage to the home’s exterior before making an offer on a home. While it’s easy to spot cosmetic imperfections and issues like a sagging gutter system and a leaky roof, you don’t truly know if there’s anything wrong with the home if you don’t have it assessed for damage.
The buyer usually pays for a home inspection before purchasing a home. A home inspection involves a professional assessing the home for damage. A home inspector will look at the home’s foundation, HVAC system, gutter system, roof, plumbing, and any other major components of the home. While it is an added cost and takes a few hours, it’s a great way to ensure you don’t overpay for a home that needs costly repairs.
Focus on Costly Components, Not Cosmetic Damage
Love the older home you saw but dislike that it needs some fresh paint? Did you like the newer build but dislike the landscaping the builder added? When you’re buying a new home, try to focus on the costly components rather than cosmetic imperfections. Costly components are things like the HVAC system, plumbing, and the structure of the home, whereas cosmetic imperfections are things that can easily be fixed or updated that aren’t crucial to the state of the home. Remember that minor cosmetic imperfections can easily be fixed whereas replacing the plumbing in a home would be a nightmare.
The home buying process can be overwhelming but it’s worth it when you’re signing at the closing. Keeping the things above in mind will help you find a home that’s best for your family. Whether you want a new construction home or an older timeless home, we wish you the very best in your homebuying process!
As mentioned earlier, it’s important to note the condition of a home’s gutter system. Living in the Heartland means periods of heavy rainfall, high wind speeds, severe thunderstorms, and even snow and ice. Our weather is often unpredictable and homeowners need a gutter system that can keep up. The K-Guard Leaf Free Gutter System prevents clogs and can handle a minimum of 22 inches of rain per hour – something other gutter systems can’t offer. K-Guard is so durable that it’s backed by three-lifetime warranties and is guaranteed transferable for the life of the home.
If you’re in the home buying process or if you’ve recently purchased a home and need to replace the gutter system, contact K-Guard today. K-Guard proudly offers our gutter installation service to homeowners across both Missouri and Kansas including, but not limited to, the following locations:
