When you have found one or more homes for your home (as in home, sweet home) buying adventure, call the seller (or the real estate agent or broker) and make an appointment to see the home. Always choose a nice sunny day, and only check out new homes during daylight hours. At night, or on a dull dark day, many flaws may not be easily visible on the outside of the home. If you have not already done so, be sure to check out the buying homes neighborhood guide before you even make the appointment to see the home to buy. Many times, a simple driveby could show problems that would remove that home from your buying list. When you do make the visit to see the new home to buy, check out the parking situation on that block. Did you find a parking space near the new home, or did you have to park in the neighboring county and hoof it over? Remember, you are likely to have visitors at some point should you buy this home, will they be able to park anywhere near the new home you buy? If the block is too congested, it could make things difficult in the future as far as street parking for you and your visitors.

As you walk to the new home you are considering buying, take a close look at the sidewalk and driveway (if any) condition. Most sidewalks are made of concrete, and although the homeowner does not own the sidewalk, they are responsible for keeping it clean and intact. If someone trips over a broken sidewalk - they get to sue the homeowner that lives in front of that piece of sidewalk. It is extremely difficult (and at times, impossible) to repair broken concrete. New concrete replacement is very expensive since half the cost is to break up and remove the old concrete. If the condition of the sidewalk and/or driveway are not good, you have to keep that , you know, repair cost in mind when making an offer on the new home to buy. First impressions are important, especially in the home buying universe. As you walk up to the home, does it look and "feel" good? If the first thing you do when you see the home is to cringe - that is not a good sign! If there are steps to the front door, examine their condition. Steps are usually made of concrete and/or bricks, they too can be expensive to replace or repair.

When you enter the new home property, the seller (or the broker) will begin their sales pitch and try to steer you through a guided tour. The best thing to do is ignore the seller and broker, and follow your own instinct. How does the home feel when you walked in, does it just "feel right"? Some cosmetic changes can be easily made, but the overall layout is often difficult to change. Start by walking in as a visitor to your new home would. Is the home (as in home, sweet home) entry "traffic path" logical and effective? Sometimes inane passageways or abrupt walls can make entry difficult. Does the layout of the home look good from the view of a visitor? No one wants to walk into a home and be faced with an open door to the . potty! Small things can make a big difference, such as a lobby space to drop wet umbrellas or muddy shoes, or a convenient coat closet at the entrance.

Observe the obvious, ignoring the seller or brokers sales pitch. How do the floors look? Are the floors consistent through all the rooms on that level? If it is a wood floor; is it stained, damaged, or worn down? Wood floors can be buffed and polished only a few times, and most stains will NEVER come out of wood floors, and new floors can be expensive. If it is a tile floor, keep in mind that tiles get COLD during winter. If it is covered in cheap linoleum you will probably have to have a new floor put in, as it may be hiding damaged floors below it. If the floor is carpeted, how is the condition of the carpet? Is it soft and shaggy, or hard and scruffy? Carpets kick up a lot of dust and lint, if you (or anyone who will live in the home you buy) has asthma or allergies, you may have to remove old dirty carpets for health reasons. Don't forget to check the floors in all the rooms on that level, and if there are other levels in the new home you are thinking of buying, be sure to check each floor on each level the same way.

What is the condition of the walls? Most homes are made of wood frame and have sheetrock (also called drywall) hung on the inside making the walls. Over time, poorly installed drywall could bow or crack, or mounting screws/nails could rise up making bumps all over the wall. Excessive wall painting (some people paint over their walls every year) will also make the surface of the sheetrock rough and uneven. Such walls are almost impossible to make presentable, they would have to be stripped and new sheetrock walls installed. The ceiling of most homes is also usually made of drywall, albeit it hangs horizontally instead of vertically. The same issues affect ceilings as do to walls - but ceilings may also show damage from water leaks (from the roof, or the upper level). Water stains on ceilings are unmistakable; discolored dots or abstract shapes, bumps in the paint, cracking, etc.

Pay careful attention to the windows in the new home to buy. Windows are the largest cause of inflated heating bills. Older windows were not efficient, they just didn't have the technology in those days to prevent drafts like we can today. Newer windows are usually double paned glass to minimize heat loss through the glass, and have tight fitting sleeves with insulation to prevent leaks. Exterior doors, too, could be a problem in this field of energy conservation in your new home. Any door that opens to the outside should have a good door frame with contact insulation to keep out drafts. The threshold (base plate) should also be well insulated, not just pretty looking. A good screen door can also reduce drafts and heat loss, since it acts as a secondary barrier to the outside air. Older doors and windows can be almost impossible to insulate, you may have to replace drafty and leaky doors and windows - if you want to keep your heating bill lower than your mortgage payment.

Insist on seeing every inch of the home you want to buy, every closet and every corner. If the seller tries to keep you from seeing a room, they may be trying to hide something. Excuses such as "the bedroom is a mess" don't fly, the seller knew you were coming and had plenty of opportunity to make the room presentable. Once you have seen the entire home and all the property outside (front, back yard etc), then you can ask the seller about any recent repairs or impprovements to the home. Ask to see each item that was supposedly repaired or replaced, use your own judgement about the truthfullness of such claims. If the home has a basement (or cellar) that is "finished", that is, has usable rooms in it, be sure to examine the walls and floor for flooding damage or mold. Pay particular attention to the condition of the roof. Most homes have roofing tiles (or shingles), and over time these begin to separate - which causes leaks. Ask about the age and condition of the roof, and if any leaks have occured from the roof of the home. Rain gutters go along with the roof, damage to one often damages the other. Of course you will also be getting a professional home inspection by an engineer, but these simple observations will save you a lot of time by anticipating factors that you can try to negotiate the price for buying homes.

The overall layout of the home is very important, after all you do want to buy the home and live there for a long, long time. While some walls can be moved or removed, it is still an expensive excursion. Some things are more difficult to add, such as additional bathrooms. Always ensure that the new home you are thinking of buying has adequate bathrooms for the anticipated size of occupancy. Are there enough rooms in the new home you want to buy? If you have (or plan on having) children, ensure the home has enough rooms to accomodate everyone, as well as any guests who may stay over. What kind of heating and hot water system does the home use? Consider the market trends of oil prices vs natural gas for heating systems, as well as for the hot water heater. Is the heating system efficient, be it forced air or circulating radiator? Is the hot water heater of a large enough capacity, and what condition/age is it? Also be sure to ask about the immediate neighbors; on both sides of the new home to buy, across the street, as well as behind the property. If you do decide to buy that home, you will have to deal with these particular neighbors on a daily level - it is better to know in advance what to expect.