Begin Your Search

The search for a new home should not start with the price. More important are the location and quality of the property and its ability to meet, or be tailored to meet, your needs.

Buying a piece of real estate is a science. Buying a home is an art. The science is getting the legal and financial parts right. The art is finding a property that you'll be happy living in.

It can't be overstated: Focus on the location and general quality of the property. Don't go chasing an exact price or a particular feature, be it a deck, a high-efficiency furnace or a finished basement. Price can be worked out in negotiation with the seller (given the right general ballpark), and a good-quality home in a good location can be tailored to your specific needs later.

Start by making a list of your needs and wants. List your dislikes, too.

This will help you zero in on a neighborhood and, together with your price range, will help your agent narrow the field of prospective properties.

Touring the house

Make several visits to any house you're seriously considering. If things are so frenzied that you're likely to lose out if you follow that route, get the most out of every minute you're in the house. Consider yourself a reporter and detective, there to gather as much information as possible about the house and the sellers.

You probably won't need to take your likes and dislikes lists with you, but by all means take a notepad and tape measure.

Your Realtor will most likely provide you with the detail sheet on each property. The most complete spell out such things as square footage of lot and house, room sizes, property taxes, average monthly utility bills, and the ages of appliances and major mechanical systems, as well as the number of bedrooms and baths, and other basic data.

Sellers and their agents also are required by law to warn buyers of known "material" defects in a property that would not otherwise be apparent during a routine inspection.  Most sellers are earnest in their efforts to sell their home, however, there is a chance the owner is not disclosing everything about the property.  You will have the chance to hire a home inspector or other inspection service to scrutinize the property a little closer with a trained eye.

If, at first glance, this looks like a house you'll want to pursue, sketch out floor plans on your first visit; they'll help you envision the house hours or days later. Carry a camera with you and take photos of houses you are seriously considering.  Also jot down special features. If you're looking at several homes, these will help you remember which was which.

You'll want a professional inspection made later if you decide to buy, but you can make some tentative judgments on your own:

• Look at the roof, gutters and exterior finish?  Does it look in good condition? 

• If the floor plan doesn't suit you, can you rearrange space or add on?

• Are you looking at older houses with the intention of remodeling or expanding? If so, have an design specialist or contractor standing by to accompany you on a second visit. The judgment of these professionals on the ease and probable cost of renovation should play a major role in how much you offer.

• If the home uses a septic system, opt for a septic inspection to verify location and proper operation.