By Kerry Knight
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| Photo Credit: cmcsheriff.net |
Is the house in a quiet neighborhood? Check out the area around the house you’re
considering. Is it near a busy street or
intersection? Is it along a train route? Some train routes allow for as many as
10 trains in a single day. That means
traffic is snarled and the train horn will blare over and over again. What about traffic flow? I was once very much in love with a property
that was walking distance to the beach.
The problem my wife and I discovered was that a major traffic
intersection was only one block away from the house. You could actually see the primary traffic
light from the deck out back. Car horns
would blow, tires would screech, and it destroyed the tranquil perception of
the property that I had initially envisioned.
There were also restaurants and bars all along the highway, which also added
to the traffic problems.
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| Photo Credit: jacksonville.com |
Another major consideration, “Is my house in the flight path
of an airport?” When planes fly over
your house in a low descent as they approach a runway, or a high-pitched,
full-throttle ascent when taking off, the high decibels can shake your house
and rattle the dishes, not to mention your nerves. In Jacksonville, Florida where Tub King is
located, there is the Naval Air Station Jacksonville across the river from our
office. Even though it’s 15 miles away, sometimes its jets and big propeller planes
fly overhead and they can be quite loud.
Do some checking before you buy. Is
the house really located in a quiet community that it appears to be on the
surface?
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| Photo Credit: jacksonville.com |
Is there adequate drainage around the property? Years ago, my wife and I decided to rent an
oceanfront condo for a couple of years.
We were soon hooked with living on the seashore. Coming home from work each day and being able
to walk out on the balcony to a breathtaking view of the Atlantic Ocean was
addicting. Our regular morning walk on
the beach while drinking our cup of java was something I’ll never forget. We thought seriously about making an offer to
purchase the property. However, there
were two huge problems with it: First,
the streets along the ocean drive had poor drainage. During a rain storm ― and there are many in
Florida, especially during the summer and early fall ― the streets would all
flood. I'm talking about a foot or more
of water. During hurricane season, there
was no question about it: evacuation time.
The other issue was the dampness.
You might expect any property located next to the ocean to have some
element of dampness. However, this was problematic. The bedroom overlooking the ocean had
developed mold in the closets and along the baseboards. The water inside the house and the
neighborhood ruined the view and experience of the water outside.
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| Photo Credit: lushome.com |
Is there adequate storage? Does the house you're looking at
have an attic? There should be stairs
leading to an attic space, either in the garage or a hallway inside. It’s normally a pull-down ladder to make the
best use of space. Check and make sure
plywood has been placed over the ceiling joists. If properly supported, you should be able to
walk on it and find significant floor space to store household things. Of course, another option would be a
basement. Make sure the basement stays
dry year round before storing boxes and valuables that can be damaged by
moisture. If the property has a garage,
there might be additional storage area there. Older homes had minimal closet
space and hardly any walk-in closets. If that’s the case with the home you’re
considering purchasing, make sure you can live with its limited storage space.
How old is the roof? By today's standards, roofing shingles
should last you 15 to 20 years. If you’re
looking at a much older home, have it inspected. If it’s a flat roof or with only a slight
pitch, examine the material that covers it.
There are membranes today that are much better than the asphalt and
gravel solutions of yesterday as these would typically leave ridges and spikes
that could cause leaks.
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| Photo Credit: littleheroes.com |
Make sure the previous owners didn’t try to do a “cover up”
and stage things before you viewed the house. When you walk through the house
the first time, look for cleverly placed mirrors, strategically situated
lighting, enticing smells, cozy fireplaces and especially the obvious odor of
fresh paint. Check to see if the window
frames have paint that’s cracking. The external window frame is a great
indicator of the state of the house. If
you can easily push your finger into a wooden window frame, it’s usually
rotten. If there is condensation between
double-glazed window-panels, it means they’re faulty.
Does the house have modern bathroom designs? Older homes
were notorious for having small bathrooms.
Some actually bordered on ridiculous.
Building a bathroom that is 5' x 4' is more like today's powder
room. You must ask yourself, “Can I live
with a bathroom that small?” Of course, there’s always the option of remodeling
and expanding its size, but when you do, you have just added a sizable amount
to the overall price of the home.
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| Photo Credit: tubking.com |
Another common feature in many homes is the ubiquitous
fiberglass shower/tub combo. You can give your bathroom an entirely new look
and feel by replacing that tub with a standalone cast iron/porcelain Clawfoot or Pedestal Tub. Or, consider choosing a handsome model from
our new line of Solid Surface tubs. If you’re looking to enhance the safety of your
bathroom there is the option of our Walk-in tubs. These have a low threshold, so it’s easy to
get into and out of the tub. Similarly, we now carry Safety Suite Showers, with both low threshold and zero
threshold designs.
Are the bathroom fixtures and plumbing in poor condition? If
the pipes are made of lead, they’ll have to be replaced. If the bathtub or sink is made of metal, the
drain may be rusting. The faucets may be
leaking due to worn seals. They also may
be severely tarnished. Is the tub’s or
shower’s porcelain chipping or discoloring?
You might want to consider taking that old, ugly tub out and replacing
with something modern, like a beautiful cast iron/porcelain Clawfoot tub. Even
a small bathroom can accommodate certain models.
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| Photo Credit: calbath.com |
There is another option if you’re on a very tight
budget. Consider having the current tub
or sink refinished. There are
refinishing companies in almost every city, in many cases, a dozen or
more. They’ll come to your home and
refinish your old tub to render it into a like-new appearance, and this way,
you won’t have to replace the old tub. Everything is done in place, and it can
normally be completed in less than a day.
Do the counter tops need replacing? Many of today’s counter
top materials are attractive and highly durable. Another thing about giving the bathrooms a
look-over. Check to see if there is
enough water pressure. Again, some of
the older homes may not be up to today's standards, but this, too, can be
corrected.
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| Photo Credit: makinghouseahome.blogspot.com |
If you really like the property, it would behoove you to
have a professional inspection done before you decide to move forward with
purchasing it. Once it passes
professional muster, then it’s time to arrange a second viewing for a different
time of day, and scout out the local area a little more to make sure it’s the
kind of neighborhood you can live in. When
checking out the property a second time, ask yourself, “Can I make this house
my home?”
In this article, I discussed several key points to consider
and investigate when shopping for a new house. For example, I discussed the
importance of location; the roof; drainage issues; the state of the current
bathroom, bathtub, shower and sink; and other key factors that are important in
your home buying decision process.
If you found this article useful, please share it with your family, friends and co-workers. If you have a comment related to this article, leave it in the Comment section of this blog. Thanks again for visiting with us.
Tub King Customer Testimonial
If you’d like to receive a FREE Clawfoot Tub Buyers’ Guide, fill out the form
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fill out the form below.
Have a question? Feel free to contact me at the number or
email listed at the end of this article and my brother, Alan, who heads up Tub
King, will personally get back to you. It’s been my pleasure sharing this
information with you.
Kerry Knight, now retired, is the former co-owner of Tub King, Inc.and
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| Check Out Tub King's New Line of Solid Surface Tubs. Click Here. |
Kerry Knight, now retired, is the former co-owner of Tub King, Inc.
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