After making the big decision to buy a new house, it’s time to do the fun part…go shopping and find your new home! Buying a home is a major decision and for most people it’s the single biggest expense they’ll ever have in their lifetime. When you’re looking to purchase a home it’s critical to take into consideration some very important things to prevent additional expenses that can add up fast.

Here’s 6 things to check before you buy. Carefully considering and reviewing each of these will be helpful to prevent future headaches and costs.

  1. Appliances: these items are important to how efficiently your home will operate. Your fridge keeps food, while your stove is used to cook food and dishwashers help clean up and keep plates and cutlery clean and ready for use. Stoves have the longest life expectancy, roughly 15 years. While your fridge/freezer typically last 13 years. Dishwashers and microwaves have the shortest average lifespan and need to be replaced every 9 years on average. Finding out the age of the appliances will help you gauge the expected timeline for replacement.
  2. Windows: wood windows versus vinyl windows is something you’ll want to check out. If the windows have a wood frame they won’t be as efficient and could result in increased heating costs. Whereas, vinyl windows are more energy efficient and maintain the heat of the home much better. 
  3. Flooring: what type of shape are the floors in? If carpet is in the home you’ll want to check for wear and tear and even stains. If the condition is rough, you could consider replacing the carpet with laminate, hardwood or another type of flooring. If the home has laminate or hardwood you’ll want to look for any dents, lifting or damage to pieces of the floor. Replacing any of the floor will come at a cost and depending on the location of the damages and how much work needs done, the cost can be considerable.
  4. Shingles: when you drive up to your future home it’s important to take a look at the shingles. Are the corners lifting? Are they sitting flat? Do they look damaged? Are shingles missing? Are they laying flat on the roof? Look for all of this and answer these questions so you know the condition of the shingles and whether or not they need to be replaced. Shingles have a lifespan of 20-30 years depending on the material type and it’s helpful to know how old the shingles are on a home.
  5. Ceiling/Roof: when inside the home, you’ll want to look up. Especially in bathrooms where there are ceiling fans and/or vents. If you see spotting or discoloration on the ceiling it could be that there was water damage. Any type of discoloration on the ceiling is something to look into and depending on how bad the discoloration is, you’ll want to consider what it would cost to replace the area affected.
  6. Overall Condition: after looking into these specific areas, it’s also important to consider the overall condition of the home. You’ll be able to get a pretty good feeling of how much the previous/current owners cared for the home just by walking around and getting a sense for the space. This is why it’s so important to walk through a home and not just rely on photos. Pictures can cover things up and don’t always show the full picture (pun intended).

It's important to consider all of these and ask questions if you’re wanting to know the exact dates and ages of certain appliances and items in the home. Working with a Realtor who can get this information from the sellers will help you get what you need and ensure you can make an informed decision.

If you're wanting to start looking for a home in Red Deer and Central Alberta, I'm here for you and ready to help. Let's connect.

Have an amaZing day!

People First. Homes second. 

Garrett Zimmerman

Realtor

403.506.5795