10 Things to Keep in Mind While Home Searching
Searching for a new home can be fun but also overwhelming. There are so many things to be aware of. A great real estate agent will make sure you’re keeping your wants, needs, and budget in mind. But there are so many things to keep in mind when you’re buying a home. So. Many. It’s really hard to remember them all, so here’s a list of a few things you might not have thought of:
Decent Mobile Phone Reception
I was recently in a beautiful new construction home with all the bells and whistles: two dishwashers, several electrical panels, family rooms on every floor, magazine worthy master bath . But after spending some time in the home, we realized that there was no mobile phone reception. You might think that’s not a big deal, and once you have internet installed on a daily basis it won’t be, but if the power were to go out your communication line would be cut-off unless you had a landline installed.
Is the outdoor space private?
I’ve been to a number of converted DC row houses recently with outdoor space that looks like a private oasis only to later discover that the space is actually shared with one of the other units. If you plan to use your outdoor space or you like privacy, make sure you know if others can use the space as well.
Available Internet Providers
Sometimes you get what you get, but other times you might have a choice. Check before you sign on the dotted line to see what internet service providers are available. Some buildings might only offer one while others might have multiple but suggest the provider who wired the building.
Are there enough outlets?
This isn’t usually an issue with newer homes. However, my old home has fewer outlets and some of them are in less-than-ideal locations. Take a look at where the outlets are in each room and try to imagine where you’ll put your furniture and if you’ll actually be able to access the outlets.
Where are the street lights?
This one comes from personal experience. As a kid, there was a street light that was actually diagonal from my bedroom but because of where my bed was it shone into my face and drove me crazy almost every night.
Legal number of occupants?
Check your jurisdiction to make sure you know how many occupants can legally live in your home. In DC you are legally permitted to have 2 occupants per bedroom plus one additional person. If you’re a couple moving into a one-bedroom, no problem. Have a baby, still fine. Have twins, you have a problem.
Snow removal
When we bought our house, my husband really wanted a yard and we found a great house on a corner lot. We moved on a 70 degree December day, but come January we had a huge snow storm and got about two feet of snow. There’s a sidewalk in front of our house that wraps around the side of the house to the alley. Needless to say, there were many, many hours of shoveling that day. So, if shoveling isn’t your deal, know that DC asks you to clear your sidewalks within 24 hours so you have a plan.
Noise
If you’re working with a good agent, they’ve probably pointed this out to you, but you should keep in mind what the noise at a property will be like at different times of day. For example, I recently showed a main level property on Connecticut Avenue on a Sunday morning. There was very little traffic, but having lived in the area, I know that during rush hour it would be busy and DC drivers love to honk. if you’re able, try to check out a property at different times of the day.
Pet Policies
If you already have a pet this is probably top of mind. If your plan is to get a pet in the future, make sure you find out about the pet policies before you make a final decision. You don’t want to end up in a building that only allows cats and birds (true story) if your dream is to get a puppy.
How close is the grocery store?
Most people think of this one, but when I asked my husband if he had any thoughts for this list this was his contribution and he said it was the most important thing to him. In case you were wondering, yes we can see a grocery store from our house.
Have something you wish you had thought to check before you moved? I want to know what it is! Send me a email at kerri@bestaddress.com.
