If you plan on buying a house this year, you will realize that it is not as simple as it sounds. We understand that it is a big financial commitment and buying a house can be confusing, expensive and overwhelming, all at the same time. We have made a list of things you absolutely need to be sure of before you finalize the deal.

Use a Trusted Realtor:

We are aware that a realtor gets a cut of the sale price of the house which makes it really necessary for you to hire a realtor who has a good track record and whom you can trust to be honest about the house you plan on buying. Do not try to save money here as hiring a wrong realtor can cost you a major financial loss as he may convince you to buy a wrong house.

Go Through the Ownership History:

Find out about the previous owners and the number of years they have stayed in the house. Make a list of all the owners. If the turnover is high, it could be a warning sign. You need to be extra cautious in that case if you decide upon buying the house.

Check for Water Damage Concealed by Paint:

Many owners can trick you by concealing water damage with paint as paint can trap the moisture in the wall that leads to mold. Look carefully in all corners for such molds and figure out if there is any leakage.

Check the Floor for Even Level:

You also need to verify if the floors are even in all the rooms. Get the floor levels inspected before you finalize anything further.

Check for Bad Odor:

Make sure the house is not sprayed with room fresher and check for bad smells in the house due to leaky pipes, mold, sewage or from the outside; if any.

Exterior Cracks and Damage:

We have been talking about the house interiors but, do not forget to inspect the exterior as well for any visual crack or damages as you need to be sure that there are no foundation issues in the building.

DO-NOT Skip Inspecting any Area of the House:

Make sure you do not miss inspecting even a single area of the house before you finalize the deal. Take your time to look around the house.

DO-NOT Waive Inspection:

Few realtors out there will give you an extra discount if you agree upon waiving off inspection. Well, we strictly suggest you not to skip that step. If there is anything wrong with the house, a thorough inspection can warn you about it way before it is too late to turn back.

Validate Permits for the Work Done:

If the house has been expanded, or some work has been done, ask the builder and the owner to show a proper permit for the work done. If they do not have a permit, it is possible that they have not followed the pre-defined standards of construction for the work that has been done.

Determine the Noise Level in the Neighbourhood:

Stay put in the apartment for a few hours to understand if the neighbourhood is noisy or not. If you want solitude in your home, you need to buy a house in a silent neighbourhood.

Re-negotiate the Housing Contract:

The final stage of buying a house is to sign the contracts. Read the clauses carefully. Negotiate the terms you feel are not fair and needs to be changed. Make sure that the possession date is clearly mentioned along with the delay compensation. If you need more time to go through the contract, then you can take a day or two to make sure everything is in line with your expectations. Buying a house can be a big deal for many people out there hence you need to be careful at every step but as the saying goes, 'you can never be too careful'. After you buy the house, if you face issues like construction defects, misuse of common area or delay in getting possession without proper delay compensation, do not panic. The consumer protection act can work in your favor in such cases, you just need to raise your complaint. This can easily be done with the help of a Consumer Law Firm such as Los Angeles Consumer Law Firm.

Investing in real estate can be tricky and feel like a gamble but with the right amount of research and resources, you will be able to finalize a property which is just right for you.