Even with an abundance of homes for sale, it can be hard to find the diamond in the haystack. Finding which homes best suit your wants and needs takes time. There are two keys to finding the right home for you: patience and knowing where to look. Here are five tips on what you should be looking for when reviewing homes for sale.

1) Ask About Your Dealbreakers Upfront

Save yourself some time. Know your dealbreakers going in and ask them to whoever is showing you the house. If they don’t tell you about any, actively seek them out. Most homes for sale aren’t going to suit you; the quicker you eliminate them, the quicker your search.

2) Assess the Roof

If the roof will require replacement, add a couple thousand dollars onto the asking price. Roofs made of sturdier materials might even lead to lower insurance rates. A strong roof may also protect your home from storm damage, meaning fewer insurance claims to later file.

3) Check the Plumbing

The fewer the repairs a home for sale will require, the better. Be sure you’re getting a functional plumbing system before you move in. Make sure to inspect all water sources, toilets, showers, and faucets. Make sure to run all of them and look for mold.

4) Look Past Appearances

Most homeowners have a mental picture of the home they want. A home for sale may not look like this yet, but it could be the right starting point. Focus on the layout and the appliances in the house rather than the staging or paintjob.

5) Hire a Realtor

No matter what you do, there will always be a huge number of features to look over. Realtors can do most of this work for you, steering you clear of homes with dealbreakers and bad roofs, showing you how a home for sale could be transformed, and reviewing maintenance histories.

RE/MAX First Choice – JoAnn Meier has been serving the Waterloo, Illinois, real estate area for 30 years. JoAnn specializes in short sales and foreclosures, finding her clients affordable homes for sale that meet all of their needs. Contact JoAnn at (618) 779-4624 or visit her website for more information.