According to the National Association of Realtors, 35% of Millennialls represented the largest share of home buyers over a four year period from 2012-2016. A majority of first-time home buyers prefer to buy a home in the suburbs , 64% are married couples, spend an average of $217,000 to purchase a home, and prefer the living environment of a smart home that’s easy to maintain
As a first time home buyer this is an exciting time for you. You have taken the time to compile your list of questions to ask the realtor and researched several ways how to save on cost when purchasing a new home, but what kind of research have you done to prepare for any necessary repairs to the home once you’ve purchased it.
Things to Think About
Does your list of questions include asking your realtor how much insulation is in the home currently? If the owner is serious about selling their home usually the realtor will have access to this information and if she/he doesn’t the inspector will usually take care of this during the time of inspection.
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Like most first time home buyers you’re motivated to make a sound financial investment. Safety, privacy, indoor, and outdoor space, and a living environment that will provide you with a source of comfort is what your looking for. If you’re conducting your own research think about looking at a homes’ duct work system. If you’re purchasing a much older home you’ll want to know if it has a forced air heating system that produces airflow that’s relatively weak and losing air and this is something that needs to be fixed in order to provide you with the quality of comfort that you’re looking for.
You have your reasons for purchasing a home. Maybe you’re getting married, moving in with a partner, or you’re expecting a baby. However, if the home you’re thinking about purchasing suffers major heat loss through the exterior walls due traditional fiberglass insulation the insulation could be breaking down and you might want to consider adding expanding foam insulation to resolve the issue. Most older homes that were previously insulated used fiberglass insulation in the walls and attics of the home. Over the course of time this type of insulation usually settles and breaks down and its’ R-value diminishes.
What To Look For
If you’re looking to buy a new home have you thought about what type of home you want to purchase? Say you’re thinking about buying an older home. Most homes built before 1980 weren’t insulated, and if they were you might want to ask your real estate agent if you could inspect the existing condition of the insulation yourself when taking a tour of the home to see if any additional insulation maybe needed.
Amenities such as big kitchens with an open floor plan, home office, low maintenance, technology accessible, and energy efficiency maybe very important features to you. After all the previous home owner may have invested thousands of dollars to upgrade the home itself in this is something that appeals to your reasons for wanting to make on offer in on the home before someone else decides to purchase it. However, the previous owners may have overlooked a few simple things such as addressing the inconsistent changing temperatures throughout the home. A few sure signs that will let you know if the home will require additional insulation include, a cool draft throughout the home, ice dams on the roof, or the home may have a hard time cooling down in the summer time.
If you’re looking for an energy efficient home knowing the answers to these simple question may help you to save several thousands of dollars in the long run on gas and electric cost. Usually older homes need additional insulation. Knowing this information ahead of time will help you to budget for any additional expenses.
Better Data = Better Home Energy Strategy
When you have precise data about the condition of your home, you’ll be able to make the decisions that are best for your family. Cameron’s Home Energy Assessment will give you that data. Don’t worry, we’ll be happy to walk you through what all the numbers and images mean. Give us a call at 443-290-5182 to begin the process of a home energy assessment.
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