Homebuyer Checklist: Easy as 1,2,3

Many buyers "just know" when they find the right home because they have done their research. And while it’s necessary to read up on everything you can before you begin searching, it’s also important to have a quick-to-access home buyer’s checklist so be sure to print this out and keep it handy or pull it up on your smart phone.

One: The Home

Things to look over and ask about for each house that you look at:

Year built (Lead Paint?)
Size/Square footage
Number of bedrooms
Number of full baths
Number of half-baths
Kitchen layout/size/storage
Condition of walls (interior)
Closets/storage space
Basement – any strange odors? mildrew or mold?
Fireplace
Exterior appearance (condition of outdoor walls, overall appearance)
Age and condition of roof
Front and back lawn areas
Deck/porch/patio
Fence
Garage
Windows/screens
Utilities: Gas, Electric, Cable TV/Internet
Private Well? Septic?

Two: The Neighborhood

Things you will want to ask about, look into, and research about the neighborhood you move into:

Appearance/condition of neighboring homes
Demographics of the neighborhood
Parking
Safety
Police and Fire Protection
Pet restrictions
Parks/recreational facilities
Traffic issues

Three: Community

It’s important to live in an area where you not only love your house, but you feel at home in the community. Here are some things you’ll want to ask about:

Schools (Reputation of school district, Private school locations (if you’d prefer), Age/condition of schools and buildings, Test scores of current students, Quality of teachers and educators, Play areas/playgrounds, Class sizes, Curriculum, School safety)
Religious community centers (churches/synagogues/etc)
Shopping centers/grocery stories
Proximity to your place of employment
Hospitals
Doctor and dentist locations/quality
Parks and recreation
Restaurants
Entertainment (movie theaters, shopping malls, etc)
Airport
Proximity to highways
Public transportation – bus? metro?