Help requested

[wordwitch]

You've done it, now help me do it.

I need to know what useful things you know about looking for and purchasing a house.

ETA: Thanks for all the helpful commentary. This is my first time as a home-buyer, this late in my life, and the whole thing has always frightened me.

Comments

[brownkitty.livejournal.com]

No personal experience here, but from watching other people's mistakes:

New ceiling tiles MIGHT mean a leaky roof. If you're feeling particularly concerned about this, try and go looking when there's a good steady rain going that's been going for a couple of days: this will tell you about roof and basement leaks, drainage for driveways and such, and might possibly let you know about septic or plumbing problems.

Speaking of plumbing, which is one of my worry-spots for househunting: check the ages of the water heater, heating/ac units, water softener if any, that sort of thing. Permanently-installed things that you NEED, but get ignored until they break.

For Steve and I at least, "location location location" actually is three different things.

1)What shape is the neighborhood in? Is it heading upward, downward, or stable for sociologic patterns? Is it someplace you feel safe about being after dark? Is it someplace you feel safe about being OUTSIDE after dark? Are the people who already live there people you could be at worst neutral about having for neighbors? Are the houses spaced widely enough that you're not going to be claustrophobic? Are you going to look out your bedroom window into your neighbor's bathroom window?

2)What is the geography of the neighborhood? Are there sewer-eating trees? Is it near a busy street, snow route, park, library, other amenities? Is it difficult to get into or out of? Are you going to be able to sleep if there's a traintrack behind your house? Are you going to be able to get out of your driveway (and your neighborhood) without breaking your neck on icy days? Are you in danger of flooding? Is any nearby body of water going to provide drowning hazards, icy winds in winter, an abundance of mosquitos, a pocketful of frogs, etc?

3)What's it going to do to your commutes to work? Are you going to need to change doctors, banks, schools, grocery stores vets (ISTR that you have pets, but not sure)? How will it change the effort required for people to get to you (I'm thinking mainly your beloved mother-in-law)?

Things I've learned from watching Alan and April's mishaps with the rattletrap they bought: Windows are a lot of the heat retention of a house, and replacing them may actually make things worse if the frames aren't sound. Foundation leaks hide behind basement paneling. Dehumidifiers are handy things if your basement isn't completely finished, and you can get one at Ace Hardware. I hate narrow stairways, and steep stairways, and carpeted stairways, and all three in one is REALLY bad. I likewise hate kitchens without a pantry, buying an appliance that EXACTLY (and I mean no wiggle room, grease it to fit it in) fit the space provided, and light-switch controlled electrical sockets.

Most of the things in the previous paragraph can be worked around, but just because something can be adapted to doesn't mean it's something you should have to settle for adapting to.

Best of luck finding a place that suits you and your family comfortably and well for as long as you care to stay there. And how are you set for moving help? If nothing else, I may be able to bring you up a bunch of boxes.