Here are 15 of the key considerations to help you and your agent purchase your next home. There are many more. Take a moment to read through these so that when they come up in the course of your search you will have a checklist of questions to ask:
- What is the neighbourhood like? Are there certain features about the area that would affect the value of the property in the future?
- What are the prices of the homes that have sold recently in this area? Is this house compatible?
- What are the realty taxes on the home?
- What are the utility costs… especially hydro if the home is electrically heated?
- How far do I have to travel for schools, shopping and recreational facilities?
- How close am I to public transit?
- What home repairs have been made in the past 2 years?
- How old is the furnace and the air conditioning system?
- Did the property have a home inspection done when the present owners bought that you could check to see what minor and major problems there were?
- Is there a recent survey conducted by an accredited land surveyor that shows all the buildings and additions on the property, and that shows all setbacks?
- Are there any utility easements or encroachments on the property?
- Are there any environmental concerns within the surrounding area?
- Is there any important information in the vendor’s disclosure statement?
- Are there problems with drainage or runoff after a heavy rain or in the spring?
- Does the basement show any signs of moisture? Can it be fixed simply by cleaning/repairing the eaves trough or is it a more serious problem?