First Time Home Buyer's Guide to the Second Showing

If you are a first time home buyer or planning to buy another house, you can get a better purchase by conducting extensive research without having to first seek the aid of a real estate agent. An important step to house buying is the showing, and the ideal way to use this opportunity is to have 3 showings at least per house to facilitate your inspection and inquiries. If the house seems viable to you after the first showing, during the second showing, take notes as you examine each area of the house for physical defects.

In the book, "100 Question Every First Time Home Buyer Should Ask", author Ilyce Glick states that it is to the advantage of first time home buyers to reconfirm things about the house that they found appealing during the first showing and spot the problems that it may have during the second showing to be able to save time and money. These are some of the elements of the house that you will have to check during the second showing:

Check the roof. Ask the property owner or the agent how old the roof is, and if there have been any renovations or repairs made to it. The cost of having to place a new roof or repair an old one is quite expensive, so knowing what condition the roof is in can prepare you for any future expenses that you may have if you decide to continue with the purchase.

Checking for signs of wear and tear in the interior. Look for cracks on the walls, creaky floorboards or shaky stairs as you walk through the home. While touch-up work may not be too costly, you should still have a strong understanding of the extent of damage.

Check the mechanical systems. Are all the heaters and furnaces functioning well? Is there any sort of insulation that is installed? Get all the details you can about the mechanical system so you can make provisions for repairs or replacements.

Do an assessment of the area. Check out the front and back view of the place. Do you like what you see? What is the noise level? These details can only be derived by actual observation and is needed to be done so you will have an idea about the area you will be living in.

Checking for pest damage. Are there any signs of termite or rodents? What about cockroaches and other bugs? Making sure the home is free of pests, and asking about any pest control that the owner has hired will help you determine if you need to make a similar investment.

Imagine yourself living there. Visualize yourself in the house going about your daily routine. Does the furniture you have complement the house? Visualizing yourself living in that place will aid you immensely in deciding if it is the right house to be called home.

The second showing is your opportunity to conduct a preliminary self-inspection and make some basic decisions on whether this is truly a good match for you. Take the time to make a checklist of things you need to review so you don't miss all of the important details.

When looking for MN houses for sale, the internet is an invaluable resource. New homebuyers can use the MN MLS to view the active-listings of homes throughout the state.