10 Tips to Remember When Buying a House

Buying a house here in South Florida is one of the biggest decisions most of our insurance clients make throughout their lifetime. It can give you months full of stress, planning, excitement and, the ultimate day of finally achieving the payoff.

Just like any other decision-making situations, there are things you have to keep in mind when buying a house. Check the following below!

1 - Don't forget the land
One of the common mistakes of the buyers is that they only focus on the house itself. It is a must to check out the land beforehand so you can have an idea whether the location of your soon-to-be home is prone to flood, landslide or even wildfires. Through checking out the land, you will also know whether the driveway is a shared driveway or not, whether there are fences or not, and many more.

2 - Have a Home Inspection First
Aside from checking out the land, it is also very important to have a home inspection.​ It's important to hire a professional Florida home inspector to help you with this task. They are called professionals for a reason. They have better knowledge and skills than you when it comes inspecting a home – from checking its foundation, wiring and the possibility of wood-eating pests’ presence.

3 - Get Your Hands on Everything
If you are inspecting a home, be sure to get your hands on everything. Try everything out there – faucet, doors, windows, light switches, floor and everything. This is the only way for you to know whether they are all working or there are some that are not functioning well. If you find things that aren't working it may not be a dealbreaker, but can help you negotiate and save money.

4 - Check The Plumbing
When checking the faucet, don’t forget to check how plumbing is done as well. Check the sink, tubes and everything. Look for leaks, mold or water damage. You would not like to deal with these if you are already living in that house, right?

5 - Don’t Focus on Paint
Don’t let a fresh coat of paint mask the bigger issues in this home. You must check deeper than that. Always pay attention to the structural stuff and check out upscale décor or newly painted walls in order to check the foundation. 

6 - Check Whether the Roof Needs Repair
Many people forget to take a look of the house’s roof. You should not be forgetting this as roof is one of the most important parts of a house structure. Check the material used for the roof. You don't want to find out in the middle of a South Florida hurricane!

 7 - Don’t Forget to Check the Temperature
This is why it is a must to check the temperature! Check whether both the heating and the cooling system still work perfectly. Believe me, it will be a disaster living in a house that can't stay warm during one of our cool streaks or can't drop below 75 degrees in hot Jupiter, FL summer. 

8 - Is It Well-Insulated or Not? 

The house should be well-insulated for it to be comfortable enough to live in and to avoid paying too much in Air Conditioning bills. Check heating ducts, water pipes and the attic. A well-insulated house will help you cut your monthly AC costs significantly.

9 - Check the Smell
Lastly, you should check out how house smells. Do you smell gas, sewage or anything that is unpleasant? You should check these out before making your final decision! The smell can actually give you a lot of insights – the age of the house, the location (is it somewhere near a garbage pit or equally stinky thing?) and much more.

Now that you already know all these, you can consider yourself ready to start your quest in finding the best home for you and your family. After choosing a house to live in, don't settle for any home insurance, at the Robert Nichols agency in Jupiter, FL we'll shop your policy with multiple carriers and find you the best homeowners coverage at the lowest price.

For more information about home insurance contact our agency at (561) 406-6153 or click here to get a quote.