| Let's cut right to the chase. If you're seriously looking | | | | 2) The Neighborhood |
| for help buying a home - you need a home buying | | | | Just as important as the home is the neighborhood the |
| checklist - period. I tend to be a little un-organized, so | | | | home is within. What's the appearance of the area? Is |
| when I'm in the market to buy a home, I know I need | | | | traffic a problem? Is this area safe? Trust me - these |
| some organizational help and a home buying checklist | | | | are things a savvy realtor won't talk about most likely - |
| provides just that. | | | | it's up to you to investigate. |
| What should be in your home-buying checklist? That | | | | 3) Schools |
| will obviously vary from person to person, but the best | | | | While this is a key home buying tip for younger |
| checklist I've found is actually a freebie from the | | | | couples, strong schools often reflect strong home |
| Department of Housing and Urban Development. I've | | | | values and shorter marketing times. So, schools are |
| provided a link below. | | | | also important when you become a home seller as |
| I really like the layout of HUD's home buying checklist, | | | | well. |
| and it's broken down into four sections: | | | | 4) Home convenience |
| 1) The Home | | | | I place this in my neighborhood section, but HUD places |
| It goes without saying that "the home" is a key part of | | | | convenience features as a stand-alone. How is this |
| the buyer's checklist. But, also as I noted, you need this | | | | home situated to your world? Is it within a reasonable |
| checklist to get and stay organized. At the end of a | | | | commute to work, school, shopping, church, etc. |
| long day of looking at homes, how are you going to | | | | Getting organized is the first step in a successful |
| remember the details of each home - your likes and | | | | buying experience, whether you are first time buying or |
| dislikes? | | | | an experienced buyer, of if you are buying a new |
| Let's say you looked at four houses on a Saturday. At | | | | home or an older home. It is critical to get organized |
| the end of the day, what do you have to help you | | | | and stay organized through the process of buying. Get |
| remember what you looked at? Four realtor sheets? | | | | an inexpensive folder, download the home buyer |
| What if there things about home No. 2 you loved, but | | | | checklist from below, take pictures, and make tons of |
| several things you disliked as well? Get your HUD | | | | notes - you won't regret it. |
| home buyer checklist and use it. | | | | I highly recommend HUD's buying checklist. I have not |
| I would also recommend taking several pictures of | | | | provided a link to this free PDF, but it is available from |
| each house - a front view, street view, rear view, and | | | | HUD's main website which can be easily found, then |
| a couple of interior pictures as well. | | | | look under buying and then click the checklist. |