Each month more people are moving to Florida for the beautiful weather, beaches, being surrounded by water, retirement, and happy people. If you are searching for a home in Manatee County, FL, you will want to consider several items in the house before purchasing one.
Before submitting an offer, research the following items to make sure the home is perfect for you and your family.
1. Location, Location, Location
This has been said repeatedly for a good reason. If you have children and want a good school district? How long of a commute are you willing to make to get to work every day if you are in the workforce? Research the neighborhood’s crime report. Is the home you are considering in a flood zone? If yes, find out the flood insurance rate to make sure that it is affordable. Talk through all of these different questions and considerations with your realtor before making a final decision.
2. House’s Age
If you are looking at brand new construction, no worries here? If you look at a resale home, it could be anywhere from one year old up to 100+ years old. Older homes can have more character than people are searching for, but they also may require more repairs and upgrades. If you have the budget and time, a fixer-upper with plenty of projects might be perfect. If you are going to renovate, you will also need to do some research regarding the new building requirements and codes. Look around and assess the condition of your roof, siding, and windows. The prices to replace these items can increase quickly.
3. Number of Bedrooms and Bathrooms
Your family will have an idea of exactly how many bedrooms and bathrooms will work for you. An extra bedroom can double as an office, den, playroom, art room, gym, yoga space, man cave, etc. To enhance your lifestyle, determine the number of bedrooms and bathrooms necessary upfront before you start searching.
4. Price of Home
So that you know what you can afford, work with a bank or mortgage company to get pre-approved for a loan. Research your loan types and the current interest rate. This information will help you to stay in your price range and know what mortgage payment you can afford. Check to see what your HOA payments in the neighborhood will be monthly or quarterly.
5. Home Appliances – Age, Style, and Condition
Appliances can be big-ticket items and expensive to replace. Find out the age and condition of each item to determine what expense you may be looking at to replace the items and when. Is there an electric range, and you prefer a gas stove? Is gas available? Look at the water heater, refrigerator, stove, washer and dryer, microwave, etc. Also, has the fireplace been appropriately maintained? A home inspection will give you some of this information.
6. Air Conditioner – Age and Condition
A properly working air conditioner is a must living in Florida, especially when it warms up. Your HVAC system is a significant investment, plus it adds so much comfort to your home and family. You will want to determine if the current homeowner has maintained the unit. Plus, research what type of system it is such as oil, gas, electric, etc. If your system is older than 2010, it may still require R22, which is now being phased out.
Ask for the serial number and the manufacturer of the HVAC system. The serial number usually has a combination of the month and year in it. You can call the manufacturer directly and ask about the age of the system.
Contact Us
At Air Shield Heating & Cooling, our highly-trained residential HVAC technicians are available 24/7 — 365 days a year to provide service for your home or small business. Call us today at (813) 796-6398 or contact us online.
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