Purchasing a new home in Philadelphia can be a fun and exciting adventure. It is incredibly exciting to think about finding a great-looking home that better meets your wants. Since a home purchase requires such a large investment of money, committing several years of your life to paying of a loan (when using a mortgage for a home purchase), and is the place where you will spend most of your time, it is crucial to not get caught up only in the exciting parts of finding an aesthetically pleasing home.
Even a home that is perfectly staged with the latest paint colors and a nicely groomed yard can have some major problems. It is important to consider the not-so-glamorous factors of a home purchase and make sure there are no red flags when you find a Philadelphia home that looks promising. You want to make sure you are making a smart purchase with your hard-earned money.
How Smart Buyers Hunt for Homes in Philadelphia
When searching for a home that is both great looking and in great shape, that will not bring buyers’ remorse a few months to a few years into the purchase, here are some key things to focus on.
Location
Often, people have an idea of a generalized neighborhood they want to live in and the type of home they are looking for. Beyond thinking your neighborhood is nice. It is important to do research about the neighborhood and how it will fit with your preferred daily lifestyle. You want to check out the schools, the commute, the culture, the neighbors, and the shopping and restaurants, all within a good distance of your home. These things matter when it comes to loving the quality of your daily life while living in your home. It is one thing to love your home, but you also need to love the area that you are living in in that home.
The “Bones” of the Home
The bones of the home refer to the structure that holds everything up. This includes the foundation and the framing inside the walls, floors, and ceilings. It is incredibly important that a home has great structural integrity. Just like a person with their skeleton, the structure of a home holds it together and ensures that it is safe to inhabit. It is also important to make sure that the landscape is properly graded and draining away from the home.
Hidden Yet Crucial Working Systems
Making sure that the hidden systems within the home that help it to operate comfortably are in great shape is important. These areas can be inspected, but it is not often easy to fully determine their condition without further inspections. For example, having a plumber make sure that the main plumbing that runs through your yard to the community system is free from blockage and working well. Taking time to make sure that plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems are in great working order is important.
Security
This is not the most fun category to consider when looking for a home, but it is incredibly important. Property theft does happen, and it is important to make sure you are protecting your belongings and yourself while you are in the home. Making sure that the home is secure and that there are easy ways to install proper security in the home is important.
Effeciency
Energy efficiency is more than just thinking about being kinder to the planet. Having an energy-efficient home means a significant saving on utility bills during your home ownership. You want to ensure that the home is energy efficient and you are not spending more money than you need to on things like heating, electricity, air-conditioning, and water.
Floorplan Flow
This one is very rarely ever thought about. Most buyers only think of whether the floor plan has the number of rooms and maybe the style of kitchen or great room entertaining area they are hoping to have.
Beyond whether the home has the number of rooms you are looking for, consider how those rooms are laid out and how they flow together. Ask yourself what your daily comfortable ideal usage of the home is. How do you see yourself going about a typical day in your home? Making sure that the rooms flow and function to optimize your day is critical in loving your home.
If you are shopping for a home in Philadelphia, you want a local Philadelphia real estate expert on your side. You can trust the team at Victory Real Estate. We are a boutique real estate agency employing real estate experts with the highest knowledge of Philadelphia real estate, ready to help you find the ideal Philadelphia home.