Find Your Home
Finding Your New Home Tips
There is a lot to think about when you make a decision to purchase a new home. For most of us, it is the single largest investment we will ever make. You want to make sure that you have made the best decision for you and your family. The typical process of buying a new home takes place over time and in several stages. To begin with, you want to take some time deciding your priorities; what you want, where you want to live and how much you want to spend and then exploring what’s available. This is true whether you are purchasing a new completed home, one already under construction or desire to build from the ground up. Once you have narrowed your choices down to one builder, one community and one home, you are ready to work out the details and sign a contract with your builder.
Before you start looking however, get off to a great start by doing some pre-planning before you go house hunting. Think about what you want in your new home and surroundings. Make a list of what’s important and divide it into must haves and would be nice to haves. Also think about what you absolutely don’t want to live without.
Now your ready to see what’s available. As you drive around visiting builders’ model homes it’s a good idea to take notes so you can make comparisons later. Keep in mind that a builder’s model home is usually just one of several designs offered by the company; a starting point.
The Community/Development
When you have found the home you want, and you are confident that you are dealing with a professional builder, you can ask the builder to write up a sales agreement.
There is a lot to think about when you make a decision to purchase a new home. For most of us, it is the single largest investment we will ever make. You want to make sure that you have made the best decision for you and your family. The typical process of buying a new home takes place over time and in several stages. To begin with, you want to take some time deciding your priorities; what you want, where you want to live and how much you want to spend and then exploring what’s available. This is true whether you are purchasing a new completed home, one already under construction or desire to build from the ground up. Once you have narrowed your choices down to one builder, one community and one home, you are ready to work out the details and sign a contract with your builder.
Before you start looking however, get off to a great start by doing some pre-planning before you go house hunting. Think about what you want in your new home and surroundings. Make a list of what’s important and divide it into must haves and would be nice to haves. Also think about what you absolutely don’t want to live without.
Now your ready to see what’s available. As you drive around visiting builders’ model homes it’s a good idea to take notes so you can make comparisons later. Keep in mind that a builder’s model home is usually just one of several designs offered by the company; a starting point.
The Community/Development
- Does the community meet your needs (as determined in your planning)?
- Does the development have a good “feel”?
- Can you see yourself living there?
- Does it offer the amenities you want? (such as golf, swimming pool, walking trails)?
- What are the long term plans for the community?
- Are there community covenants or a homeowner’s association?
- Is there common area?
- Is it a gated community?
- Take a close look at the quality of each model home. Is construction solid, the finishing well done with attention to details?
- Compare layouts and size (more square feet does not always mean more living space).
- Find out if the features in each model home are standard or upgrades (i.e. extra cost).
- Ask if the builder has samples of their standard products you can see.
- Ask what technology is available.
- Check out the cabinet quality.
- Are baseboard standard and what sizes are offered?
- What is the plate height (e.g. what is the ceiling height going to be)?
- Is crown molding standard and what size or styles are offered?
- Note the features of each home that appeal to you.
- Ask about each builder’s design flexibility (e.g. moving walls, adding a garage, pool).
- Is the home energy efficient (e.g. Energy Star rated)?
- You should shop around for your builder as carefully as you do for your home.
- Is the company a member of the Home Builders’ Association?
- Will you work directly with the builder or do they have someone supervise the job for them?
- Does the builder provide a New Home Warranty Agreement?
- Where else have they built and are they building now?
- Will they give you references of past and/or current customers?
- Ask about after sales service-most builders have an established follow-up system.
When you have found the home you want, and you are confident that you are dealing with a professional builder, you can ask the builder to write up a sales agreement.
