6 Essential Things to Look for in a New Home

6 Essential Things to Look for in a New Home

By Kara Masterson

Investing in real estate is one of the most financially sound things you can do, but buying a new home might feel intimidating when it is your first time. It is understandable that you’d want to make the best decision possible. Here are six things to look for that can help with your decision.

Efficient HVAC System
Heating and cooling count for a large percentage of a home’s monthly operating costs. An outdated heating and air conditioning system will drive up your bills and decrease your comfort. Make sure the HVAC system is one of the newer efficient models and has been well maintained.

 What's My House Worth?Good Layout
Decorating a home is easy and inexpensive, but big renovations like knocking out walls or adding rooms can drive up your costs later on. It is better to start with architectural details that you already enjoy. Pay attention to how one space flows to another, ceiling height, number of rooms and the amount of natural light.

A Sturdy Roof in Good Repair
Many homebuyers forget to check out this important home feature. A damaged roof can indicate water damage and mold problems elsewhere in the home. Your real estate agent can supply you with information about any recent upgrades to the structure and a professional home inspection can supply you with any other data you need to know before making your decision. These agents can also help you find solid listings of homes that have recently repaired.

Upgraded Plumbing
Old homes can possess a lot of charm, but if you are considering buying a piece of vintage real estate, make sure you have the plumbing checked. Old metal pipes can leak or might be corroding and adding visible sediment to the water supply. Upgraded plumbing helps you avoid problems such as burst pipes and high water bills from inefficient plumbing features.

A Great Kitchen
The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the home. Even if you don’t plan to spend a lot of time

6 Essential Things to Look for in a New Home  By Kara Masterson  Investing in real estate is one of the most financially sound things you can do, but buying a new home might feel intimidating when it is your first time. It is understandable that you’d want to make the best decision possible. Here are six things to look for that can help with your decision.   Efficient HVAC System Heating and cooling count for a large percentage of a home’s monthly operating costs. An outdated heating and air conditioning system will drive up your bills and decrease your comfort. Make sure the HVAC system is one of the newer efficient models and has been well maintained.   Good Layout Decorating a home is easy and inexpensive, but big renovations like knocking out walls or adding rooms can drive up your costs later on. It is better to start with architectural details that you already enjoy. Pay attention to how one space flows to another, ceiling height, number of rooms and the amount of natural light.   A Sturdy Roof in Good Repair Many homebuyers forget to check out this important home feature. A damaged roof can indicate water damage and mold problems elsewhere in the home. Your real estate agent can supply you with information about any recent upgrades to the structure and a professional home inspection can supply you with any other data you need to know before making your decision. These agents can also help you find solid listings of homes that have recently repaired.   Upgraded Plumbing Old homes can possess a lot of charm, but if you are considering buying a piece of vintage real estate, make sure you have the plumbing checked. Old metal pipes can leak or might be corroding and adding visible sediment to the water supply. Upgraded plumbing helps you avoid problems such as burst pipes and high water bills from inefficient plumbing features.   A Great Kitchen The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the home. Even if you don’t plan to spend a lot of time  there, you will want to make sure the kitchen adds a lot of value to the home in case you put it back on the market in the future. Renovating a kitchen can be costly, and so it is better to start out with a kitchen you know you can live with and enjoy.   The Right Number of Bathrooms Adding a bathroom is not a simple task. Don’t settle for a home that lacks the right number of bathrooms to match your family’s needs. Two bathrooms at minimum are ideal.  Remember that details such as cabinet color, carpeting and other decorative features can be changed when you tire of them, but the architectural bones of the home is another story. Put more worth on a sound structure that you can do a lot with, and features such as a stone mantel, rather than easily replaced incidentals.   Kara Masterson is a freelance writer from West Jordan, Utah. She graduated from the University of Utah and enjoys writing and spending time with her dog, Max.    This post was originally published on RISMedia's blog, Housecall.  For More Information:    Ascot, Atrium I Condominium, Atrium, Baldwin, Bentana Park , Bowman Green , Brandermill, Bristol House Carlton House, Charter Oak, Chestnut Grove, Crippens Corner, Deepwood, Dockside, Edgewater At Town Center Equestrian Park Estates At Wyndham Hills Executive Ii Office Fairway Executive Center Faraday Professional Center Fox Mill Woods Generation Glade At Hunters Woods Glenvale Hampton Pointe Harbor Point Hunt At Lake Fairfax Hunters Crossing, Hunters End,Hunters Green, Hunters Square Hunters Woods Village , Lake Anne Of Reston Lake Fairfax Park Estate, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Madison Park At West Market Madison Park At West Market, Market Street Town Center Mercer Midtown At Reston Town, Midtown At Reston Town Center Midtown North Nantucket At Reston, North Point Villas Northgate Oak Park Paramount Parcreston, Polo Fields, Reston Savoy At Reston Town Center Shadowood Shaker Woods, Southgate, Stratford Park Home Buyers relocating to Reston - Herndon, If you already live in this area or if you are relocating from somewhere else. Two important things to note: If you live locally and have a home to sell, I am more than willing to give you a free estimate of your home's value. If you are relocating to our area I have an amazing relocation package to send you. Kim Kroner Realtor - Associate Broker Top Producer - NVAR Multi Million Dollar Sales Club Member - Long & Foster Chairman's Club Long & Foster Christie's International kim@kimkroner.com (703) 946-2526 (800) 9611328 www.kimkroner.com 309 Maple Ave W. Vienna, VA 22180  Kim Kroner Realtor - Associate Broker  Top Producer - NVAR Multi Million Dollar Sales Club  Member - Long & Foster Chairman's Club  Long & Foster Christie's International  kim@kimkroner.com  (703) 946-2526  (800) 9611328  www.kimkroner.com  309 Maple Ave W. Vienna, VA 22180   Why is pre-approval important at the beginning of the home buying process?
there, you will want to make sure the kitchen adds a lot of value to the home in case you put it back on the market in the future. Renovating a kitchen can be costly, and so it is better to start out with a kitchen you know you can live with and enjoy.

The Right Number of Bathrooms
Adding a bathroom is not a simple task. Don’t settle for a home that lacks the right number of bathrooms to match your family’s needs. Two bathrooms at minimum are ideal.

Remember that details such as cabinet color, carpeting and other decorative features can be changed when you tire of them, but the architectural bones of the home is another story. Put more worth on a sound structure that you can do a lot with, and features such as a stone mantel, rather than easily replaced incidentals.

Kara Masterson is a freelance writer from West Jordan, Utah. She graduated from the University of Utah and enjoys writing and spending time with her dog, Max.

This post was originally published on RISMedia's blog, Housecall.
For More Information:




Ascot,  Atrium I Condominium,   Atrium, Baldwin,   Bentana Park ,   Bowman Green ,    Brandermill,   Bristol House Carlton House,   Charter Oak,   Chestnut Grove,  Crippens Corner,   Deepwood,   Dockside,   Edgewater At Town Center Equestrian Park Estates At Wyndham Hills Executive Ii Office Fairway Executive Center Faraday Professional Center Fox Mill Woods Generation Glade At Hunters Woods Glenvale Hampton Pointe Harbor Point Hunt At Lake Fairfax Hunters Crossing,   Hunters End,Hunters Green, Hunters Square Hunters Woods Village ,  Lake Anne Of Reston Lake Fairfax Park Estate,   Lakeview, Lincoln Park,   Madison Park At West Market Madison Park At West Market, Market Street Town Center Mercer Midtown At Reston Town,   Midtown At Reston Town Center Midtown North Nantucket At Reston, North Point Villas Northgate Oak Park Paramount Parcreston,  Polo Fields, Reston  Savoy At Reston Town Center Shadowood Shaker Woods,  Southgate,  Stratford Park       Home Buyers relocating to Reston - Herndon, If you already live in this area or if you are relocating from somewhere else. Two important things to note:      If you live locally and have a home to sell, I am more than willing to give you a free estimate of your home's value.      If you are relocating to our area I have an amazing relocation package to send you. Kim Kroner Realtor - Associate Broker  Top Producer - NVAR Multi Million Dollar Sales Club  Member - Long & Foster Chairman's Club  Long & Foster Christie's International  kim@kimkroner.com  (703) 946-2526  (800) 9611328  www.kimkroner.com  309 Maple Ave W. Vienna, VA 22180

Kim Kroner Realtor - Associate Broker
Top Producer - NVAR Multi Million Dollar Sales Club
Member - Long & Foster Chairman's Club
Long & Foster Christie's International
kim@kimkroner.com
(703) 946-2526
(800) 9611328
www.kimkroner.com
309 Maple Ave W. Vienna, VA 22180

Why is pre-approval important at the beginning of the home buying process?

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