Your Complete House Hunting Checklist to Find Your Dream Home

General Anil Gupta 21 May

Source

When looking for a home, there are many things to consider. From the price of the property and its location, to the number of rooms and whether it has a nice yard, these are all standard contemplations house hunters have at the top of their list. However, there are other things to keep in mind you may not be considering.

Inquiring as to whether there’s street lighting nearby, how many outlets there are in a room, what kind of pipes are in use, what type and style of windows are installed, and whether there are zoning restrictions are additional questions that you should consider when you’re looking to purchase your dream home.

Read on to learn more about the essential aspects you should have or add to your house hunting checklist.

In this article:

Why price and location is important in choosing a home

“Buying a home is one of the most significant investments you’ll make in your lifetime,” shares Julia Hurst, a REALTOR® at Keller Williams Capital Realty in Rothesay, New Brunswick. “Undoubtedly, the price of a home is one of the primary considerations for most buyers. Establishing a clear budget that not only covers the purchase price, but also includes additional costs like closing fees, property taxes, and maintenance expenses is incredibly important.”

Hurst says, “the saying ‘location, location, location’ is a real estate mantra for a reason!” The location of a home dictates both the demand, price, and desirability, and for this reason, it’s important to “think about your lifestyle and future plans when assessing the location.”

“The neighbourhood you choose can greatly impact your daily life,” Hurst explains. “Therefore, considering things like the proximity to work, schools, shopping centres, healthcare facilities, and recreational areas should all be top of mind.”

According to Hurst, examples of questions you should be asking yourself are:

  • Am I okay with living in a neighbourhood full of children?
  • Does the area offer accessible infrastructure?
  • What’s the age group of the rest of the homeowners in the area?
  • Am I close to amenities such as schools, city services, public pools, places of worship, restaurants, etc?

Remember, REALTOR.ca listings come with neighbourhood information powered by Local Logic. Make sure to check that tab out when looking at your next property!

 

Things to consider about the home’s exterior

“Before falling in love with a property’s aesthetics, ensure it has solid structural integrity,” cautions Hurst.

Structurally impaired properties can lead to expensive, unanticipated repairs if the crucial step of organizing a home inspection is overlooked. You want your home to be able to maintain its structure over time, so “by taking a good look at the foundation, roof, windows, plumbing, electrical systems, and more can save you from costly repairs down the road,” shares Hurst.

Though you’ll spend most of your time enjoying the interior of your home, there are still things to consider when it comes to the exterior. As you’re looking at potential homes, keep these things in mind:

  • What’s the lot size?
  • What kind of house is it (single family, semi-detached, townhome)?
  • Which direction does the home face? When will you be getting the most sun?
  • Is it a shared or private driveway?
  • How close are the houses next to you?
  • What type of siding does it have, and what is the general upkeep of this material?
  • What’s the condition of the landscaping?
  • Does it have a garage?
  • Is there a front porch?
  • Are there street lights nearby?
  • Is there a private backyard?
  • Does the foundation have any major cracks?
  • What’s the aesthetic of the home?
  • Is the roof in good condition?

 

What to look for inside the home

Setting aside the individual rooms, it’s important to get a good gauge of the home’s interior as a whole.

“Consider the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and any additional rooms or features (like a home office or backyard) you require now or may require down the line,” recommends Hurst.

You should also ask yourself things like:

  • Do you like the interior architectural aesthetic?
  • Is there good soundproofing between rooms?
  • Is the home open-concept?
  • Is there a lot of storage space?
  • Do the locks, latches, and handles work well?
  • Do the windows and doors open well without sticking?
  • Are the doorways and hallways wide enough to move around and move in your furniture?

When it comes to the individual rooms, there are further things you can ask or look for to make sure you’re considering every element of a potential home.

 

 

How important is the kitchen?

Considering you’re preparing three meals a day (plus snacks, of course) inside this room, chances are you want it to be functional and laid out to your liking. Ask yourself the following questions:

  • Does it have an eat-in area?
  • Is there a kitchen island?
  • What’s the pantry space like?
  • What’s the colour-scheme, and will it need to be changed?
  • Does this layout work for your family?
  • What types of counters are there?
  • Do the appliances come with the home?

What features do the living room and dining room have?

At the end of the day, you’ll need a place to relax (and enjoy those meals you made). This is your castle, after all! Make sure you are getting most of your needs and some of your wants, like:

  • What type of flooring is there?
  • Is there a fireplace? Is it wood-burning?
  • Is there a separate dining room?
  • Is there a lot of natural light?
  • How many light fixtures are there?

Are you considering what you need in a bathroom?

The bathroom situation of a home cannot be overlooked, either. Some REALTORS® say this is actually one of the most important aspects of a home. When you’re looking at photos or touring a potential home for you and your family, make sure to ask yourself:

  • Is there an ensuite bathroom?
  • Is there enough counter space for everyone who will be using it?
  • Are there enough outlets and are they in convenient locations?
  • Is there a walk-in shower?
  • Is the shower tall enough for your needs?
  • Is the water pressure decent?

 

 

What to look for when it comes to bedrooms

Listen, you should be spending at least a third of your life here (who’s getting eight hours of sleep a night?). However, bedrooms aren’t just a place to get your snooze on. You should feel most at ease here, to create a calm, tranquil environment. Make sure to ask yourself these important questions:

  • What’s the flooring type?
  • Is there enough floor space for what you need?
  • Is there closet space for what you need?
  • How many windows are there?

 

How important is the basement

Don’t overlook the basement! This part of a home can be super valuable in terms of finishing your home how you like. Need an extra bedroom? Put it in the basement. Need a home office? Consider the basement. Want more storage? A bar? A play area? Well, this could be the basement’s chance to shine. Here are some things to ask yourself:

  • Is it finished?
  • Is there enough headroom for you?
  • Is it a walk-out basement?
  • How many windows are there?
  • Is there any evidence of flooding issues or moisture?
  • Check out the storage and furnace areas for any obvious issues (a home inspector will ensure the system is safe and up to date).
  • Are any bedrooms in the basement up to code?

 

What else to consider when buying a home

  • Were there recent renovations done? If yes, who did them and can you see the receipts?
  • What type of heating is it?
  • Is the electrical system up to date?
  • What type and size of water heater is there?
  • What type and rating of insulation is used in the house?
  • Is the house on sewer or septic?
  • What are your options for cable, internet, and cell service in the area?
  • Are there overnight parking restrictions?

Don’t forget the resale value

Yes, even when you’re hunting for a home to buy, resale value should be a top consideration.

“Even if you’re planning to stay in your new home for many years, it’s wise to consider its resale potential,” explains Hurst. “Think of your purchase like an investment. Market conditions can change, and you may need to sell your property in the future. Factors like neighbourhood desirability, school districts, and property conditions can all influence resale value.”

Remember, your REALTOR® can provide valuable insights into the current market and help you make decisions that will benefit you in the long term.

 

Download our full checklist!

Purchasing a home is a significant decision, and while there can be stressful moments along the way, it should be, overall, a fun experience!

“It’s essential to approach it with careful consideration and an open mind to possibilities. Make a list of needs versus wants and prioritize what are the non-negotiable items and what are the things that you could live without and maybe add later,” advises Hurst.

Hurst encourages “working with an experienced REALTOR® who will help make the process smoother and will ensure you find a home that aligns with your goals,” and adds, “take your time, do your research, and align with a REALTOR® who you feel most comfortable with.”

Check out our full house hunting checklist below. Save it in your phone or print it off for when you attend your next open house to ensure you’re ticking all the boxes—literally!

5 Common Property Title Issues You May Run Into

General Anil Gupta 21 May

Source

Once your offer to purchase has been accepted, your financing has been approved and a closing date has been set, you might breathe a sigh of relief. But there’s another important step before you take possession: preparing and transferring the title to your home.

When a real estate lawyer—or a notary, in Quebec—starts working on the title, several tricky issues can come up. But not to worry; most of the time, you can rely on your REALTOR®  and this professional to help navigate the process.

Real estate lawyers review the contract, making sure it complies with all regulations, and that all signatures are in the right place. By viewing public documents like deeds and land records, they then verify whether the property is being sold by the individual, corporation, or estate that owns it and check whether the home is subject to sales tax. Title searches are crucial to make sure any claims against a property are paid before the seller receives payment from the buyer.

We asked Jennifer Chiasson, a real estate and planning lawyer, and partner at LM Legal Solutions in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, about five situations you might encounter, and how they get resolved so you get a clear title.

In this article, we’ll go over:

Issue 1: Existing liens

Liens against a property can include anything from unpaid debts to missed tax payments, and they must be cleared before you take over the property. Otherwise you, as the new owner, are responsible for paying them, says Chiasson.

“Most times, you’d see a builder’s lien if it’s a new construction or has been significantly renovated, and those are placed by contractors that didn’t get paid by the owner; it’s important the lawyer finds that lien, so it’s taken care of by the seller’s lawyer,” she explains.

“There can also be judgments against the individual owners of a property for things like default on a credit card or Canada Revenue Agency taxes. The lawyer ensures there are enough funds to cover those.”

Issue 2: Encroachment issues

Sometimes, a neighbour’s fence might be a few inches over the property line—that’s an encroachment, but not a serious one. However, a lawyer may discover an entire addition to the home or an in-ground pool encroaches on someone else’s land.

“If a client came to me and said, ‘It looks like the neighbour’s shed might be over my property line,’ I’ll look to see if there’s any easements or agreements in place—sometimes there are and sometimes there aren’t,” says Chiasson.

“For example, Nova Scotia has a lot of rural properties, and many people have shared driveway agreements, so I check to see if that’s on title. If there’s an easement agreement or an encroachment agreement in place, it flows with the property.”

 

Issue 3: Title fraud

Sometimes, lawyers find red flags, like forged or stolen documents that were used to commit title fraud without the property owner’s knowledge, notes Chiasson.

Buying title insurance can protect you against any issues that are discovered during a search.

“We check for anything unusual, such as if the title was recently transferred, and we verify our clients’ identities,” she explains. “It’s important to have REALTORS® and lawyers involved in the process, so you have multiple layers of identification verification. Private deals are much more susceptible to identity fraud.”

Sometimes, a seller’s use of a property doesn’t comply with zoning bylaws. Maybe they set up a store in their basement, for example, or turned a commercial space into a residential loft.

“With short-term rentals becoming more frequent, verifying municipal zoning is incredibly important. If people didn’t follow zoning requirements or pull proper permits, those sorts of things are covered by title insurance,” says Chiasson.

Issue 5: Mistakes with public records

Errors about things like square footage or property lines can also make a sale complicated, notes Chiasson, because that can affect your home’s appraised value.

“In Nova Scotia, we changed from an old registry of deeded system to the online land registration system in 2004. And before that, things like easements got missed or restrictive covenants didn’t get properly applied to a parcel of land that should have. So, we always check, and then we go back to the clients and their lawyer to say, ‘We think these apply’.”

Title searches protect buyers, sellers and lenders for major issues that could derail a sale. Being prepared by working with professionals like real estate lawyers and REALTORS® helps the transaction go smoothly for everyone.