You have decided to begin house hunting – congratulations! Now you can begin your search…but where to start? For some people the process is exciting, but for others it can seem daunting. To quell any anxieties and boost excitement, creating a house hunting checklist can be one of the best tools to have at your fingertips.
To start checking off items on your house hunting checklist, you should first take into consideration the area around the house itself, then proceed to the home’s exterior and, finally, its interior. This will help narrow down your search considerably. Here are some important things to look at:
Picking the Right Neighbourhood in Toronto
When researching if your new house is in a suitable neighbourhood, consider how long your commute will be to work from the property, its distance from public transportation should you require it and the proximity to amenities such as grocery stores, hospitals and schools. Other helpful things to look into when looking at a neighbourhood include how well-lit the neighbourhood is at night as well as its crime rate. Last, but certainly not least, is its pet friendliness should you have a family pet or want to get one once you move in.
In addition to looking into the physical make-up of a particular neighbourhood, it is also helpful to know the value of properties in your area. This can give you a good idea if the property you are looking at is within a reasonable range or if you should enter into negotiations with the seller.
Cell Phone Coverage Around the GTA
It can be easy and yet very wrong to assume that just because you are searching for a property in an urban area it will have good cell phone coverage. OpenSignal is a great app that lets users voluntarily share information about their cell phone reception in their areas so that others can figure out which spots have the strongest receptions for specific providers. It also works for wi-fi connections too!
Additional Fees When Buying a Home
Additional fees can sneak up on any property-owner. While most condo owners know and expect condo fees, there can also be neighbourhood or club fees for condo and homeowners alike. It is also important to inquire about home insurance and property taxes to ensure that after everything is said and done, your dream home is still within your budget.
Moving one step closer to the inside of the property, we now turn to the second phase of our house hunting checklist: the immediate exterior of the property.
Roofing Concerns with Properties
When looking at the roof of a house, ensure there is no discoloration or any holes that may cause leaking or sagging lines that could spell expensive repairs.
Cracks in the House
The childhood phrase “step on a crack and break your mother’s back” is not far from the truth when house hunting. Finding a visible crack in the foundation, driveway, siding or pool is a sign of trouble for you as a buyer.
Pest Control
While you are not an expert, you can still check around the outside of the house for signs of pest infestations. Common ones tend to be termites, mosquitos, ants, mice and roaches. Always ask your real estate agent about a property’s pest history and if you do wish to submit an offer, ensure that pest problems are triple-checked during a home inspection.
Landscaping and Curb Appeal of the Homes
If the property has a patio or a deck check to see that it is stable and in good condition. Also take a look at the state of the trees, the lawns and the fence. Something else to consider is the garage. What is its condition and is it manual or remote control? Make sure that it functions!
We now approach the inner ring and third phase of the house hunting checklist: the interior of the property.
Floors, Windows and Ceiling
When looking throughout the house make note of the age and condition of these three fundamental parts to a home as this can determine whether you need to include renovations into your budget. Examples of what to look for include: if the windows provide enough natural lighting in rooms, are the floors even, etc. Remember that the stairs count as floors and if they creak or show any sign of damage that you should inquire about the costs to repair them.
Walls
If you see a stain, be sure to inquire as to how the stain came about. It could be superficial, in which case a paint job is an easy fix. But it could be a sign of something more serious such as water damage. Also check out how soundproof the property is.
Doors
Many people might overlook the doors when touring a property for the first time as they will expect the doors to be open – but how well do they close? Are external doors weatherproofed? Does the doorbell work? How are the locks throughout the house?
Washrooms and Kitchen
In the washrooms and kitchen, be on the lookout for stains, mildew, mould and leaks. All of these are danger signs. When touring the washrooms, ensure the fans work and the toilets flush properly.
New items will crop up on your list all the time, and sometimes it can get confusing which property had which features. To make your search even easier, here is a great online house hunting checklist that you can print out and take with you either to viewings or while you are doing your own research at home. Good luck in this new chapter in your life!
