The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #42660   Message #620966
Posted By: Sorcha
04-Jan-02 - 12:32 PM
Thread Name: BS: Buying a house; your best tips?
Subject: RE: BS: Buying a house; your best tips?
Sounds like there are going to be quite a few of you--check out the storage space. Is it adequete? Is it easily acessible?

Is the kitchen large enough to cook for a group?
Will there be enough private spaces for everyone?
Look at acess patterns to rooms---especially to the bedrooms. Do you have to traipse through the bath to get to a bedroom? (Yes, my aunt had a house once where her son had to go through the bathroom to get to his bedroom)
Single story or multiple? Check emergency egress.
Check hall and stair widths to make sure you can get furniture in (or in worst case--emergency equipment such as an ambulance gurney)
It will be the little things that will end up driving you nuts. Things like drawers that don't close all the way, closet doors that won't stay on the tracks, a window that won't open.

If there is a fireplace/woodstove, HAVE IT INSPECTED!! AND CLEAN THE CHIMNEY!!

Do get inspections from liscensed people for wiring, plumbing, termites, etc.
How much re decorating are you going to want to do? Can you live with it the way it is for a while, or would all the wallpaper, paint, etc. have to be re done immediately?

Look outside for potential problems--dead trees, poor utility hook-ups, a huge garden gone to ruin, etc.

Check "covenants" on the property. Can you have animals? What kind? How many? Can you plant trees, tear up the yard for a garden? Are there noise regulations in the neighborhood?

Check with the utility providers for past heat/electric bills. See how high they were.

I'm sure there are more I will think of.