Top Ten Buying Tips!

1. Buy a Home That Will Resell!
When a client gets excited about a house Steve has just shown them, the first thing Steve thinks about is "how easily will this home be to resell down the road?" You should be thinking of that as well. What follows will help you to avoid certain pitfalls and help you remember what to look for in your new home.

2. Location, location, location
The three most important considerations when buying a home. You can decorate, renovate and improve until the cows come home but you can't change the location of your home. A good location makes it easier to sell your home and will put more money in your pocket when you do.

3. The Beverly Hillbilly's
If they're living next door to the house you are considering buying that will affect the resale value of your home. A good clue to how neighbours keep up their properties is to take a look in their backyards. Don't be shy. Have a look at all the properties that surround the house you like. If you are considering a home that is next to a commercial or industrial lot this will adversely affect your resale value as well.

4. The Biggest House on the Street!
Don't buy it. It's hard to justify your asking price when you go to sell when all the homes around you are worth less than yours. The best thing to do from an investment standpoint is to purchase a home that is less expensive than the neighbouring homes or at least around the same value.

5. Kitchens and Bathrooms
Typically two of the most important considerations for purchasers. Do they need renovating in the house you are considering? How much will it cost to bring them up to snuff? Is it an eat-in kitchen? Is there an ensuite bathroom? Should there be an ensuite bathroom in the price range of this house? Kitchens and bathrooms will have a major impact on resale value.

6. Schools
A key ingredient to the resale value. Does the local school have a good reputation? Are the kids bussed or is the school within walking distance? Take the time to visit the school yourself. Even if you don't have kids the person who considers buying your home down the road may.

7. Vacant Land
Who owns it, what's the zoning and what's the official plan for the land? You don't want to buy a home only to find out six months after you move in that a toxic recycling plant is being built.

8. Bedrooms
Another obvious key. How many bedrooms do most of the other houses in the neighbourhood have? Will buying a two or three bedrooms home affect resale? Is there adequate closet space? Do you have to access any of the bedrooms through another bedroom?

9. New Subdivisions
You absolutely love this new subdivision and from what you can see everything looks great! What's it going to look like in five years? Who's the developer? Is this their first project? Will builders of less quality homes be let in if sales are slow? How long until the subdivision is completed? Will the trucks be going by your front door for the next five years? These are all questions you should have answers to.

10. Asked and Answered!
There's no such thing as a stupid question. If you have any doubts about anything concerning the house you are considering buying - have your questions answered before you put in an offer.
© By Steve Wiggett, Sales Representative, Royal LePage Triland

Contact Steve Wiggett
Ph: (519) 661-0380    Cell: (519) 852-5257    Toll Free: (866) 339-0033
Fax:(519) 661-0998    Email: steve@londonroyallepage.com
Royal LePage Triland Realty 235 North Centre Road, London, ON N5X 437