Page 40 - 2019 Westchester Relocation Guide

REAL ESTATE
TIPS FOR BUYERS
Expert advice from real estate and home inspection professionals
Buying a home can be the biggest investment you make in your lifetime. Before you take on a hefty mortgage, learn what you should be looking for when shopping for your new digs.
Location, Location, Location
“It’s the one thing that can’t be changed,” says Lou Budetti, owner of ERA insite Re- alty Services, with offices in Pleasantville, Bronxville, and White Plains. “Walls can be moved, kitchens can be updated, carpet- ing and flooring can be changed, but the house can’t be moved. Make sure the lo- cation works for you, in terms of proxim- ity to job or family, the school district and neighborhood you want to be in.”
Check Your Surroundings
When shopping for a home, ask yourself, “What is going on around the home? Is there new building taking place?” Budetti asks. “Depending on the development that’s going on, it could have either a posi- tive or negative impact on short and long- term value. So it’s important to look at not just the home itself, but what’s around it.”
Bargain Hunting
Mary Stetson of Mamaroneck-based Stetson Real Estate says you can get more for your money if the home has cer- tain issues. “Give some thought to which you could live with and grab a bargain,” Stetson says. Some of those issues may include: busy road, noise, flood zone, dated interior, quirky or bad layout, structural issues, major renovation required, a less than desirable school district, high taxes (greater than 2.5% of the market price).
Move in Ready
On the flip side, Stetson says if you find your dream home, go for it. “Go ahead, pay a premium for a new or perfectly redone home. It’s worth it.”
Fall in Love, but Be Willing to Compromise
Joseph Rand of New York and New Jersey-based Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty says, “Always remember that buying your home is like marrying your
spouse. You should fall in love, but rec- ognize that you’ll never love everything. Every home buyer makes some sort of compromise, none of us get everything we want and that is okay.”
Kindness Matters
Rand says, “Be nice to the seller when you see the home. It can make a difference if you end up in a bidding war.”
Do Your Homework Before the Inspection
First of all, make sure you get a profes- sional home inspection and attend that inspection, urges licensed home inspector
Jeff Fetchick of House 2 Home Inspec- tions, LLC., which serves Westchester and Fairfield County, among other areas. But before you the inspection, “it is best if the buyer has gone through the home first and comes prepared with a list of any questions (see sidebar) that they may have, including things like discolor- ation or systems or controls they are not familiar with.”
Prepare for Your Mortgage
Rand says “Start preparing for your mortgage process on the first day you go looking. Save your pay stubs. Don’t change jobs. Don’t take out any loans.”
Looking for the perfect home? Before you start your search make sure you are prepared for the process.
Questions to Ask Yourself When Touring a Home
ATTENTION BUYERS! According to Jeff Fetchick of House 2 Home Inspections, LLC, here’s what you should be on the lookout for: • Are there any strange odors or staining in
the bathroom?
• Is it too cool or too hot in the house?
• Have the basement or foundation walls or
floors recently painted?
• Are only the bottom portions of the
basement walls freshly painted?
• Are all the windows open and fans running
on a too cool or hot day?
• Is the scent from air fresheners too strong?
• Are there multiple dehumidifiers running (or are multiple dehumidifiers tucked away not so inconspicuously in closets, etc.)?
• Does it seem like the seller has curiously stacked every last personal belonging against certain areas of a basement, garage, or attic?
• Are there sophisticated or multiple water filters?
If any of these are true, let the home inspector know so that you can be sure that signs of potential issues are not being hidden.
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