Reply #41: Lots of good advice here. Realtors dress up houses to look

[mnhtnbb]

pretty and you want to look beneath the surface. Check the age/condition of roof, HVAC, plumbing, electrical systems which are all very costly to repair/replace and you don't get classy looks from redoing them! AVOID FLAT ROOFS!!!

Look for good bones in a house. Have enough space in the entryway to welcome guests and put away
coats. If you are looking at older houses with lots of little rooms, think about how you could
open them up to create a master suite or larger kitchen area. Be sure to talk to a trusted contractor/friend/relative to get an idea what you need to spend to accomplish any remodeling.

If you suspect there have been pets in a house with carpets, get down and sniff! Replacing carpets
will add to your expense and owners have been known to let pets destroy carpets after the house is under
contract but before ownership transfers.

Look for quality details in a house rather than square footage. Think about using rooms for multiple
purposes. BUY THE LEAST EXPENSIVE HOUSE IN A TERRIFIC NEIGHBORHOOD rather than a bigger house
in a more marginal area. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!!!

Good luck and happy house hunting. You'll know when you walk in when you've found the right house!