Steps to
Buying a Home

 




Property Condition

If I knew how to make you buy a house . . . I'd be living on my yacht by now.

I believe that agents don't "sell" houses. Houses sell themselves; and the first impression a house makes on you will be the one that stays with you. So when you've selected some homes to visit and we see a house together, in the flesh so to speak, let it make its impression.

Take in the location, look at it from the street to see if it invites you in. Do you feel welcome as you step through the front door?

As you move through the rooms, is there a natural "flow" from one area to another. Is there adequate separation between living space and private space? Is the kitchen functionally arranged?

Can you envision your family living comfortably here?

I see a lot of houses so I can offer comments and advice but you're the only one who can really determine whether or not a house meets your unique needs.

The condition of a property . . . is a primary factor in deciding what it's worth. Many aspects of property condition are obvious, some are not.

Most sellers complete and sign the Residential Property Condition Report provided by the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. Sellers who do not provide these disclosure forms to prospective buyers are required to give a buyer a $300 credit at closing.

These forms include several pages of information about physical and mechanical components of the home. They should also include a page indicating whether or not the sellers have any knowledge of mold in the home and, for houses built before 1978, must include a form indicating whether or not they have any knowledge of the presence of lead paint.

Failure to disclose known defects . . . can expose the seller to lawsuits. Agents who fail to disclose defects of which they are or may become aware can be sued, as well. They may also face criminal penalties and be subject to disciplinary action including loss of license.

The seller's disclosure forms are important but the seller can sometimes legitimately claim to have "no knowledge" of defects or deficiencies in the condition of the property.

What you and I see . . . as we go through the house may have more value. If you're knowledgeable about the way a house is put together and the way its components and systems should function, you're ahead of the game.

I'm not a home inspector but I do know how to look for certain problems. Before making an offer we want to have a pretty good idea of the structural soundness of the home, its ability to withstand the elements (e.g.. is there roof or foundation leakage?), and whether or not there are indications of environmental problems like mold or underground fuel tanks.

Once you're satisfied that the house's condition is satisfactory, or can be made so, you're in a position to make an offer.
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