So, the curb appeal has attracted you in examining the interior of the home in the first place, and after examining the house with your realtor, you have come to the conclusion that this house suits your needs and budget. This is the point where a buyer needs to squelch down some of their understandbly giddy emotions, put the brakes on, so to speak, and should begin to rationally assess some of the potential pitfalls the exterior of the home may present. The following are a few important things you should consider about the exterior of the home before you make an offer.
1) Views
When considering making an offer on a home, one must be very careful when it comes to views. Views, beautiful as they may be, are often seductive and can influence the buyer to overlook serious, costly problems a potential home may have. Furthermore, a buyer should beware of overvaluing the view. A beautiful view today may just be a view of your neighbor’s bathroom in a year. Be sure to investigate local legal regulations regarding new construction in the area, the height to which homes can be built, the restrictions you may have in altering the view as a homeowner and whether pre-existing homes can add second or third floors. Your due diligence will pay off in at least assuring you that you will be able to enjoy the view you paid so much for and allow you to regain it’s value at resale.
2) Landscaping
When visualizing a house with your landscaping and improvement ideas, the first thing to consider is whether you will be allowed to make the changes that suit your tastes. Many houses these days are built within developments and that means rules and regulations by the score that govern exterior changes. Many developments have strict rules regarding landscaping and any additions to properties such as hot tubs, decks and similar exterior improvements. Most of these rules tend to be very restrictive and potentially would disallow the very improvements you might be considering. Before you rush off to make an offer on a property, make absolutely sure you understand what you can and cannot change about the property.
3) Open Land or an Empty Lot
Too many prospective buyers, especially those with pets and children, tend to look at empty land adjacent to their lot as an added plus when buying a property. In their minds eye, they may see their children playing baseball after school on lazy, summer evenings and these visualizations cloud their ability to see the potential problem about an empty lot. If there are vacant lots of land around a property you are considering buying, you must investigate them. You will want to find out what the future plans for those lots are? Are they zoned only for residential use or is commercial zoning available?
You may find yourself seriously regretting your purchase if you find out after the fact that they are approved for commercial use. Before you make the offer on such a property, you need to investigate the matter and give some serious thought as to whether the property will suit you. How will you feel about living next to a business area? How much traffic will it add to your neighborhood? How much noise pollution will there be? What will the commercial development do to the value of the home? These are all questions you must consider before buying the property.
If you have assessed the property in light of the items mentioned above and have found that you are still satisfied with the home, than you are in the clear to begin to prepare your offer and if your offer is accepted, your due diligence will pay off and contribute to your “pride of ownership” and enjoyment of your home for years to come.
Nef Cortez has been a licensed real estate broker and has held various positions in the real estate and mortgage industry for over 25 years. If you would like to read more of Nef's pithy and timely advice (with the latest info on local foreclosures), visit his website at Diamond Bar Houses or read his blog at Southern California Real Estate Blog
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