Most buyers know to turn on faucets during a home tour. They check whether water flows, glance underneath sinks, and may test the shower. But a home rarely operates with only one plumbing fixture running at a time. A more revealing question is what happens when water is being used in two places at once. Test More Than One FixtureIf appropriate during your evaluation of the property, try running water at one fixture while another is already operating.For example, what happens at the shower when a nearby sink is turned on? Does the flow appear noticeably different?The goal is not to diagnose the … [Read More...]
When buyers study a floor plan, they usually focus on where the rooms are located. Is the primary bedroom downstairs? Is the laundry room near the bedrooms? Is the kitchen open to the living area? There is another detail worth checking that may not be obvious during a showing: what is happening on the other side of each wall. Start With the BedroomsBedroom placement can have a major effect on how a home feels during everyday life. Look at what shares a wall with each bedroom. It could be another bedroom, a bathroom, laundry room, garage, kitchen, staircase, or family room. A bedroom positioned … [Read More...]
While the Core PCE Index came in at 3.0%, below the expected 3.3%, overall inflation remains well above the Federal Reserve's 2% target. With inflation still running above the Federal Reserve’s target, there remains room for rates to stay elevated or potentially increase over the next several rate decisions if the Fed remains focused on restraining inflation. The JOLTS job openings report has also revealed a larger-than-expected gap. Job growth across the board has been slowing, with growth concentrated in only a handful of sectors. The nonfarm payroll figures have also come in well … [Read More...]
The thermostat is one of those household features buyers can walk past several times without giving it much thought. If the temperature feels comfortable during the showing, there may seem to be little reason to investigate further. But where a thermostat is located can influence what it senses about the temperature inside the home. Find It Before You LeaveDuring your tour, locate the thermostat rather than simply checking the temperature displayed on it.Is it in a central hallway? Near the kitchen? Close to an exterior door? Is sunlight hitting the wall where it is mounted? The thermostat … [Read More...]
Buyers usually tour homes with the lights on, doors open, and every room ready to be seen. That makes sense for a showing, but it does not necessarily reveal how the layout will function when the house is dark and everyone is asleep. One surprisingly useful way to evaluate a floor plan is to imagine walking from each bedroom to a bathroom in the middle of the night. Count the Turns and ObstaclesStart with the bedrooms.Is the bathroom directly across the hall, or does reaching it require navigating stairs, corners, or several doorways? Would someone need to cross an open living area or walk … [Read More...]
When touring a home, buyers may notice the water heater long enough to check its age or condition. What they may not consider is where it is located compared with the faucets, showers, and appliances that depend on it. That distance can become surprisingly noticeable once you actually live in the home.Follow the Hot WaterStart by locating the water heater, then think about the home's layout.Is it in the garage beside the kitchen? Is it tucked into a utility room at one end of a long house? Where are the primary bathroom, secondary bathrooms, laundry room, and kitchen in relation to it?In a … [Read More...]
