Buying a house is an exciting process. It’s fun to see what different neighborhoods have to offer, check out various floor plans, and imagine yourself living in a space. However, it is also one of the biggest purchases you will ever make. With so much money being invested in a property, it is imperative that you really do your digging before signing on the dotted line.

Unfortunately, simply browsing the real estate listings you find online and going to an open house may not give you all of the information that you really need to know about a house. To help you make the most informed decision possible, following are a few tips that we like to share with our house hunters.

Chat with the neighbors.
If you really want to find out what it’s like to live in a particular neighborhood or you would like to know the back story on a house, the best way to get this information is to talk to the people who live nearby. Make a trip to the neighborhood yard sale, and take a few minutes to ask one of the homeowners about the community. If you are eyeing a house and the neighbor is outside, don’t be afraid to stop and strike up a conversation. The neighbors can give you an idea of what the current homeowners are like and if there have been any major issues at the house, that they know of.

Pay attention to the foundation.
We know exactly how house hunting goes. You want three or four bedrooms, a gourmet kitchen, and luxurious bathrooms. Right?! While all of these features are pretty to look at and awesome to have, don’t let these details distract you from the bigger picture. That recently remodeled kitchen or custom tiled shower won’t be quite as appealing once you figure out that the house has some major foundation issues. Do your due diligence, and have a home inspector thoroughly check out the home’s foundation and other major details.

Be open minded.
Just because a house doesn’t currently fulfill the vision you have for your future home doesn’t mean that you can’t get it there with a little work. Behind that ugly wallpaper and outdated bathroom could be a solid house that is ready for a creative mind and renovations.

Are you in the Charlotte area and thinking of buying a home in the near future? If so, contact one of our experienced real estate agents to help with the process!