2 Things To Check Out Before Making An Offer On A New Home

Doing a bit of research can go a long way when it comes to making sure that you are getting the best home for you and your family, mostly because it can help you avoid a number of potential problems down the line. Listed below are two things to check out before making an offer on a property for sale.

Neighborhood Crime Rate

One of the first things that you will want to do before making an offer on a new home is to check out the neighborhood crime rate. In many cases, you do not want to base your evaluation of a neighborhood's safety on how nice the neighborhood looks, mostly because that isn't going to be a real indicator of the crime rate.

Instead, check with the local police department or visit one of the many websites online that can provide a full listing of the police response and calls to the police in a particular neighborhood and when those calls occurred. In addition, these websites will also provide a complete description as to what kinds of crimes occurred, which can help you make a better decision as you might be willing to accept living in a neighborhood where the only reported crimes are minor cases of vandalism if you like the home enough. On the other hand, if the reported crimes are hate crimes or other types of violent crimes, then you will know that is probably best to simply walk away in order to keep yourself and your family safe.

Furnace Age

Another important thing to check out before making an offer on a new home is the age of the furnace. This is extremely important because an older furnace means that you may have to repair or replace it in the near future, which can be a bit frustrating after you have just recently spent a lot of money buying the house.

In addition, a home with an older furnace means that your heating bills are likely going to be much higher because older furnaces tend to be less energy-efficient than their modern counterparts. If the home has an older furnace, but you still quite like the home, consider making the replacement of the furnace a part of the sales contract or simply offer less money and inform the seller that you are offering less because you are going to have to update the furnace out of your own pocket.

Contact a real estate agent in the area today in order to discuss what things you should make a habit of checking out when  looking at potential homes to purchase and to discuss what you are looking for in a home. When buying a home, it is important to check out the neighborhood crime rate and the age of the furnace before putting any money down on the home.