What matters?

Picking the right house

What matters most is that you find a home that your family can peacefully enjoy. The most important thing is that you like the house. Don’t lose that idea in all the noise of the process.

Mastering new territory

Maybe you will have to come to grips with having a water well or a septic system. Maybe an antique stone foundation isn’t what you’re use to. Most of us around here live this way quite comfortably. Take the time to understand what these differences and how to treat them. Have appropriate inspections performed so you better understand what conditions or risks you are accepting.

Environmental comfort

Sure, there are environmental checks to be done and corrective action may be necessary. Luckily, these things are manageable.

Serious Deficiencies

Make sure you have a qualified home inspector look for deficiencies that could seriously compromise habitability. If discovered deficiencies are a surprise, then you can probably work out a fair arrangement with the seller. Get help on this from your real estate professional and your lawyer.

What doesn’t matter?

Normal wear and tear

If you look carefully, you will probably see a lot of normal wear and tear throughout the house. Life has happened in all but brand new homes. If the house is an antique, they may call the wear and tear “charm”.

You aren’t totally on your own after the purchase. There are plenty of good tradespeople to help you take care of your home. Your home inspector should be able to advise you if you are getting mixed signals from the repair community. Just pick up the phone. Moving to new area and home should be a positive adventure!