Keys to Buying a House in 2012

            (Or how to avoid deception and misrepresentations.)

Buying a house is a feel good moment for every home buyer whether it is your first experience or your tenth.   Most sales are made without real and substantial deception.  But when it does happen, it can be a nightmare.  Before you buy, consider these Keys to Buying a House in 2012 so that you can sleep well in the house you buy.

1.      Talk to the Neighbors. 

2.      Check out the County Tax Appraisal records.  

3.      Get every question answered by the Sellers, not the Sellers' Agent.

4.      Get every question answered by the Sellers in writing.

5.      Ask for the Sellers' Disclosure Notice when they bought the house.

6.      Ask for all repair tickets, invoices and work orders for repairs or renovations to the house.

7.      Talk to the contractor who did any repair or renovations to the property.

8.      Spend hours at the house, not just a few visits.

9.      Hire an engineer, an HVAC contractor and a roofer to check out your house.

10.  Follow the engineer, HVAC contractor and roofer around.

11.  Ask for previous contracts on the house. 

12.  Find out how long the house has been on the market.

13.  Ask for the show log for the house.

14.  Contact your insurance agent and ask for a claims history on your prospective home.

Each of these steps will be expounded upon in subsequent blogs.  Stay tuned.