My TiVo at home is flooded with episodes of House Hunters and Property Virgins. My wife's a fan of the latter and I like the international version of House Hunters. As newlyweds, my wife and I are still vying for control of the remote, so when I watch football, we record her programs and vice versa. (That's called compromise) Unlike what we see on tv, we know there's more to take into consideration when buying a house than brazilian hardwoods, granite countertops and industry vernacular such as "turn-key" and "up-and coming neighborhood".
Let's breakdown the home-buying experience through the average bear's eyes, and through an experienced remodeler.
Curb appeal is an important aspect of any home, and especially if you're a newlywed like myself. The front yard has to be more expansive, the flora grander and brighter, and the exterior has to be more scenic than your wife's best friend from high school. But, it's not cheap or easy to have a great looking lawn. Home Depot's Garden Center has all you need to keep your lawn in great shape, but at some point it will boil down to football on Saturday and Sunday, or maintaining the lawn. Be wise.
On to the entryway; often times, the first remarks about the house are wall paper, paint and window coverings. We can all agree honey mustard should stay a dipping sauce, and not the color of the family room. As true as that may be, it's less important than the energy efficiency of the entry doors and windows.
I've yet to see a prospective homeowner look at the lack of weatherstripping around a front door with sheer terror, or to make demonstrative remarks abound how hot the east and west facing rooms are warmer when compared to the rest of the house. Cosmetic changes such as paint, or window coverings are not as fiscally straining as upgrading the efficiency of your home.
As a new home buyer, visit the home more than one time of day. You'll want to see how the sun affects the interior temperature of your home. The temperature change can be a good indicator of possible upgrades you'll need to make as the new homeowner.
Check for broken seals and fogged panes throughout the home. To replace the glass, you can expect to spend between $100 and $200 per pane of glass, depending on the shape, grid pattern and energy efficiency requested. An average home has between 10-20 windows, resulting in 20 or 40 individual panes of glass, so that can add up quickly.
Like your favorite radio station, the next bit of information will be after a short break...check back later this week for the conclusion of this article.