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What’s your home repair IQ?
Are you literate in the world of home repairs? Or would you rather enlist the help of a pro? Take the Ultimate Home Repair Quiz and discover your do-it-yourself IQ. And while some projects should be left to the professionals, others can be tackled by the homeowners. How Stuff Works lists five that often come up and entail easy solutions. Here’s what heads of households ought to know:
- Prepping and painting interior walls
- Fixing squeaking and sticking doors
- Using caulk
- Repairing a faucet washer
- Unplugging a clogged toilet
Homeowners with shallow knowledge of the basics need not be alarmed. Online help is readily available at sites like How Stuff Works, the DIY Network, HGTV, and This Old House.
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Do the homework before buying land
Finding the right home is not for everybody. Some want to build the dream house using their specifications. With real estate prices lower than they were five years ago, purchasing land could make sense for those who have the wherewithal.
What are the right questions to ask before signing a purchase contract? Michael Luckado’s “Buying the Land for Your Future Dream Home,” featured in HomeGain, outlines the major categories. The first step is to check out the zoning laws for the land and its surrounding areas. Is the area zoned for residential or commercial? What are the setback requirements (distance between the proposed home and lot lines) and height restrictions?
When zoning checks out, the buyer should contact the Homeowner’s Association, if one exists, and inquire about additional restrictions that may affect the building project. If the green light is still on, look into the availability of utilities. Those that are not easily connected will incur additional costs. For example, if water and sewer are not available, a private well and septic tank will need to be installed. There may also be fees to build (contact the local building and public works department for a list) and maintenance expenses even before breaking ground such as real estate taxes, insurance, sewer and water availability fees, HOA dues.
After completing due diligence on the above items, you may want to consult with an attorney to review the contract. As a rule, a title search on the land is recommended. Before you build the dream house, do the homework. It can make the difference between a poor and prudent decision.
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The dream house is also about the community
Choosing where to raise a family is one of the most important decisions for a household with children. Are there standard features a family ought to look for in a neighborhood, community, and town? Not really. The specifics are up to the values and needs of the individual household. Once you determine what you want, it’s time to put the town to the litmus test.
Real estate consultant Barbara Cocoran suggests some practical things homebuyers can and should do before purchasing a home. First and foremost, buyers need to look at the neighborhood and town where the house is located. Too often, buyers develop tunnel vision, focusing solely on the exterior and interior features of a property. Finding the dream house, however, is as much about the community as it is about square footage and floor plan. It’s critical to observe the people who live in the community in real time. Visit the house, neighborhood, and hot spots (playgrounds, local sports activities, and places families frequent) during evenings and weekends.
And if finding quality education is a top priority, Corcoran suggests that buyers check the SAT scores of the local high schools. These standardized achievement tests serve as one barometer of student success. Typically, higher scores translate to better schools and choosier buyers, who purposely seek out properties that will hold their value and increase over time. Are you looking for the ideal community? Check out the video tips at Forbes.com.