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Fill out this chart when you’re looking for a new house; it should help facilitate your decision making process.
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Several months before actually start looking: - Get copies of all three credit reports before you apply for a house loan
- Purchase credit score (rates your risk as a borrower) from www.myfico.com
When house shopping, compare the ones you are interested in with the following chart:
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House 2 |
House 3 |
Check out school system
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| Check out crime rate |
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| Check out traffic on street |
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| Determine guest parking availability |
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Count number of bathrooms
- Condition of bathroom 1
- Condition of bathroom 2
- Condition of bathroom 3
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| Count number of bedrooms |
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| Size of bedroom closets (bad, good, very good) |
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| Count number of kitchen drawers/shelves |
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Condition of kitchen
- age of appliances
- condition of cabinets
- condition of countertops
- condition of flooring
- room for eat-in table
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| Size of living room |
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| Size of dining room |
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| Count number of bookcases available |
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| Check out storage available – attic, basement, and closets |
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Ask about age of house
If renovated, were permits issued? |
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| Ask about age of roof and how many roof coverings are on the roof |
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| Look at windowsills and wood trim – check for rotting wood, need of painting |
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| Ask about wood flooring vs. carpeting; do they need to be redone/replaced |
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| Examine driveway – does it have cracks, need to be redone |
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Find out what type of heating system
Size and age of water heater |
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Check capacity of electrical service
If septic tank, date of services |
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| Check chimney/ fireplaces; date of last cleaning |
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| Does it have a garage, basement? |
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| Is there a burglar/fire alarm system; if so, is it owned or leased? |
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| Play area for children/flat area for bicycles |
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| Ask about radon testing |
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| Ask about termite bond; is it transferable? |
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| Ask if any neighborhood/association dues? |
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| If pool, age and condition |
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When you get down to your favorite home, have a:
Professional inspection of everything - Roof, plumbing, electrical wiring, wood trim
Financial inspection of everything
- Check for liens
- Title search/Title insurance
- Ask to see property tax records
- Ask to see utility bills
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