Home Buying Tips Archives - Lori Blank & Associates

02

Oct

Real Estate Tips

Why Buyers Should Look at Where the Thermostat Is Located

The thermostat is one of those household features buyers can walk past several times without giving it much thought. If the temperature feels comfortable during the showing, there may seem to be little reason to investigate further. But where a thermostat is located can influence what it senses about the temperature inside the home. Find It Before You LeaveDuring your tour, locate the thermostat rather than simply checking the temperature displayed on it.Is it in a central hallway? Near the kitchen? Close to an exterior door? Is sunlight hitting the wall where it is mounted? The thermostat responds to conditions…

01

Oct

By Lori Blank

Real Estate Tips

Why Buyers Should Try Walking From Every Bedroom to the Bathroom at Night

Buyers usually tour homes with the lights on, doors open, and every room ready to be seen. That makes sense for a showing, but it does not necessarily reveal how the layout will function when the house is dark and everyone is asleep. One surprisingly useful way to evaluate a floor plan is to imagine walking from each bedroom to a bathroom in the middle of the night. Count the Turns and ObstaclesStart with the bedrooms.Is the bathroom directly across the hall, or does reaching it require navigating stairs, corners, or several doorways? Would someone need to cross an open…

30

Sep

By Lori Blank

Real Estate Tips

Why You Should Check How Far the Water Heater Is From the Rooms That Use Hot Water

When touring a home, buyers may notice the water heater long enough to check its age or condition. What they may not consider is where it is located compared with the faucets, showers, and appliances that depend on it. That distance can become surprisingly noticeable once you actually live in the home.Follow the Hot WaterStart by locating the water heater, then think about the home's layout.Is it in the garage beside the kitchen? Is it tucked into a utility room at one end of a long house? Where are the primary bathroom, secondary bathrooms, laundry room, and kitchen in relation…

29

Sep

By Lori Blank

Home Buying Tips

Why Vacant Homes Can Be Harder to Judge Than Furnished Ones

An empty home might seem easier to evaluate because there is nothing distracting you from the property itself. Surprisingly, vacant rooms can sometimes make a home more difficult to judge. Without furniture providing scale and context, buyers may misinterpret everything from room size to how comfortably their belongings will fit. Empty Rooms Can Play Tricks on Your EyesWithout a bed, sofa, dining table, or other familiar object for comparison, estimating dimensions becomes harder.A bedroom may appear surprisingly small when empty but comfortably accommodate a bed and nightstands. In another home, a large-looking vacant living room may become much tighter once…

23

Sep

By Lori Blank

Real Estate Tips

Why Two Identical Floor Plans Can Feel Like Completely Different Homes

Two homes can have the same square footage, the same number of bedrooms, and even the exact same floor plan, yet walking through them can feel completely different. Buyers sometimes assume that once they have seen one version of a particular layout, they know what another will be like. In reality, the blueprint is only part of what determines how a home feels. Window Placement Changes the ExperienceNatural light can dramatically influence how large and inviting a room feels.The same floor plan positioned differently on a lot may receive sunlight from completely different directions. One living room might feel bright…

22

Sep

By Lori Blank

Home Buyer Tips

What Happens to Your Street After Everyone Gets Home From Work?

A quiet residential street at 11 a.m. can be very appealing. Driveways are open, curbside parking is plentiful, and getting in and out of the neighborhood seems effortless. But that may not be the street you actually experience after moving in. Before buying a home, consider returning after the workday ends and seeing what happens when everyone comes home. Watch the Parking ChangeOne of the biggest differences may be street parking. During the day, many residents take their vehicles to work. By early evening, those cars are back. Households with several vehicles may fill their driveways and use curbside spaces…

16

Sep

By Lori Blank

Home Buyer Tips

Why You Should Visit a Home When the Neighbors Are Home

A home showing at 11 a.m. on a Wednesday can give you an excellent look at the property. It may not give you an accurate picture of the neighborhood. Many residents are at work, children are at school, vehicles are gone, and the street may be unusually quiet. Before buying, consider visiting again when the neighbors are actually home. Come Back After WorkA neighborhood can change considerably between afternoon and evening. When residents return from work, you may discover that street parking fills quickly or that several neighboring households have multiple vehicles. A street that seemed wide and open during…

15

Sep

By Lori Blank

Real Estate Tips

What the Trash Cans Can Tell You About a Neighborhood Before You Buy

When evaluating a neighborhood, buyers often drive through looking at homes, yards, traffic, and nearby amenities. There is another surprisingly useful time to visit: trash collection day. It may not sound glamorous, but garbage and recycling day can reveal details about how a neighborhood functions that are easy to miss during a scheduled showing. Look at What Happens at the CurbPay attention to how trash and recycling are handled throughout the neighborhood. Are containers neatly placed at the curb, or are sidewalks and streets difficult to navigate? Overflowing containers, piles of discarded furniture, or trash regularly left outside designated areas…

26

Aug

By Lori Blank

Real Estate Tips

What Buyers Should Know About Shared Driveways

A shared driveway may seem like a minor detail when you are focused on a home's layout, condition, and location. However, because the driveway is used by more than one property owner, it is important to understand exactly how access, maintenance, and responsibilities are handled before you buy. Understand Who Owns the DrivewayA shared driveway does not always mean both homeowners own equal portions of it. In some cases, one property owns the driveway while a neighboring property has a legal right to use part of it through an easement. In others, ownership may be divided between properties. Ask your…

21

Aug

By Lori Blank

Real Estate Tips

What Every Buyer Should Know About Property Lines

When buying a home, the yard, driveway, fence, and surrounding space may appear to clearly define the property. In reality, visible features do not always match the legal boundaries recorded for the land. Understanding property lines before closing can help you avoid future disputes, unexpected restrictions, and costly mistakes involving fences, additions, landscaping, or shared access. Do Not Rely Only on Fences A fence may have been installed for privacy or convenience rather than directly on the legal boundary. Trees, hedges, driveways, and retaining walls can also create the impression of a property line without confirming where the property actually…