| So, the curb appeal has attracted you in | | | | and similar exterior improvements. Most of these |
| examining the interior of the home in the first | | | | rules tend to be very restrictive and potentially |
| place, and after examining the house with your | | | | would disallow the very improvements you might |
| realtor, you have come to the conclusion that this | | | | be considering. Before you rush off to make an |
| house suits your needs and budget. This is the | | | | offer on a property, make absolutely sure you |
| point where a buyer needs to squelch down | | | | understand what you can and cannot change |
| some of their understandbly giddy emotions, put | | | | about the property. |
| the brakes on, so to speak, and should begin to | | | | 3) Open Land or an Empty Lot |
| rationally assess some of the potential pitfalls the | | | | Too many prospective buyers, especially those |
| exterior of the home may present. The following | | | | with pets and children, tend to look at empty land |
| are a few important things you should consider | | | | adjacent to their lot as an added plus when buying |
| about the exterior of the home before you make | | | | a property. In their minds eye, they may see |
| an offer. | | | | their children playing baseball after school on lazy, |
| 1) Views | | | | summer evenings and these visualizations cloud |
| When considering making an offer on a home, | | | | their ability to see the potential problem about an |
| one must be very careful when it comes to | | | | empty lot. If there are vacant lots of land around |
| views. Views, beautiful as they may be, are often | | | | a property you are considering buying, you must |
| seductive and can influence the buyer to overlook | | | | investigate them. You will want to find out what |
| serious, costly problems a potential home may | | | | the future plans for those lots are? Are they |
| have. Furthermore, a buyer should beware of | | | | zoned only for residential use or is commercial |
| overvaluing the view. A beautiful view today may | | | | zoning available? |
| just be a view of your neighbor's bathroom in a | | | | You may find yourself seriously regretting your |
| year. Be sure to investigate local legal regulations | | | | purchase if you find out after the fact that they |
| regarding new construction in the area, the height | | | | are approved for commercial use. Before you |
| to which homes can be built, the restrictions you | | | | make the offer on such a property, you need to |
| may have in altering the view as a homeowner | | | | investigate the matter and give some serious |
| and whether pre-existing homes can add second | | | | thought as to whether the property will suit you. |
| or third floors. Your due diligence will pay off in at | | | | How will you feel about living next to a business |
| least assuring you that you will be able to enjoy | | | | area? How much traffic will it add to your |
| the view you paid so much for and allow you to | | | | neighborhood? How much noise pollution will there |
| regain it's value at resale. | | | | be? What will the commercial development do to |
| 2) Landscaping | | | | the value of the home? These are all questions |
| When visualizing a house with your landscaping | | | | you must consider before buying the property. |
| and improvement ideas, the first thing to consider | | | | If you have assessed the property in light of the |
| is whether you will be allowed to make the | | | | items mentioned above and have found that you |
| changes that suit your tastes. Many houses these | | | | are still satisfied with the home, than you are in |
| days are built within developments and that | | | | the clear to begin to prepare your offer and if |
| means rules and regulations by the score that | | | | your offer is accepted, your due diligence will pay |
| govern exterior changes. Many developments | | | | off and contribute to your "pride of ownership" |
| have strict rules regarding landscaping and any | | | | and enjoyment of your home for years to come. |
| additions to properties such as hot tubs, decks | | | | |