Selecting a Neighborhood
Location is one of the most important considerations when shopping for a new home. Weigh the pros and cons of living in the city, the suburbs or the country. Compare neighborhoods as carefully as you compare houses.
Consider practical aspects such as time and distance to work, schools, shopping and the availability of transportation. Make personal observations, but also consult your builder, local government, friends, and if possible, people in the neighborhood.
As you explore each home, use the following checklist to determine whether the neighborhood suits your needs.
- 1. Shopping - Are there adequate shopping facilities nearby?
- 2. Neighbors - Are the neighbors likely to be compatible with your tastes and lifestyle?
- 3. Police and Fire Protection - Are police and fire protection adequate?
- 4. Medical Facilities - Is there a hospital or medical center nearby?
- 5. Schools and Day-care - If you have children, are the schools good?
- 6. Are they in a location that is convenient? - Are convenient day-care facilities available?
- 7. Traffic - Are the streets quiet enough?
- 8. If you have children, will they be safe from traffic hazards?
- 9. Parking - Are there adequate parking and garage facilities?
- 10. Transportation - Is public transportation frequent and convenient?
- 11. Trash and Garbage Collection - Is trash and garbage collection adequate?
- 12. Recreation - Are there suitable parks and facilities nearby?
- 13. Places of Worship - Are places of worship available and convenient?
- 14. Privacy - Do the lots and houses offer enough privacy?
- 15. Water - Does the community have a reliable source of drinking water with adequate capacity to meet present and future needs?
- 16. Sanitation Facilities
- 17. Is the sewer system or septic tank adequate and reliable?
- 18. Does it meet present and anticipated future needs?
- 19. Landscaping - Is the land well drained?
- 20. Has proper landscaping been done to prevent erosion?
- 21. Is the landscaping attractive and likely to enhance the value of your home?
- 22. Taxes - Are the property tax rates reasonable?
- 23. Is either the tax rate or the value of your house likely to change enough to cause a substantial increase in your tax payment?
- 24. Assessments - Are there special assessments covering a portion of the lot, street, or community development costs which will force you to pay added monthly charges for a specified number of years?
- 25. Nuisances - Are there nearby sources of noise, smoke, soot, dust or odors that will degrade your housing environment and endanger members of your household?
Choosing a Builder
The quality of your new home will largely be determined by the quality of the builder who constructs it. Search carefully for a reputable firm that builds a quality product.
Do not start your search by leafing through the Yellow Pages. Refer to the list of Professional Builder Members of the Northern Virginia Building Industry Association listed under "Volume Builders" or "Custom Builders" (depending on your purchasing desires) on this website. Then ask several of those builders for references. Find out if those references are satisfied with their homes. If they have had problems, learn specifically what went wrong so that you will know what to watch out for.
After you have identified several builders in your area, checked their references, visit some of the homes they have built. Knock on doors and ask people how they like their homes. Or visit the neighborhood on a Saturday morning when people are doing yardwork and outdoor chores. Donate be shy. Ask about the builder's customer service program. Look at the homes yourself to see if they are soundly and attractively built.
Check each builder's credentials. Find out how long the firm has been in business and what kind of reputation is has established in the business community. Try to ascertain information about the builder's credit rating. Check with the Better Business Bureau and local consumer protection agencies to learn if the company is reliable and if there have been any complaints.
Also find out if the builder is a member of the local homebuilders association. Check with the association to verify the builder's reliability and professional standing.
The builder's ability to offer an attractive financing package may be another consideration. Remember, however, that financing has no bearing on the quality of the builder's houses.
Make a special effort to learn what type of customer service and warranty protection builders offer. Do not wait until after you have purchased a house to find out how to correct problems. Most builders offer some form of written warranty. Find out the length of the warranty, if it is backed by an insurance company and what procedures will be followed if a problem arises. Ascertain what responsibility the builder assumes for the work of subcontractors and others who helped to build the house. And be sure to understand who will be responsible for correcting problems with your major appliances.
Many builders back their own warranties on workmanship and materials, typically for one year. A warranty backed by insurance costs more, but it offers more protection. If for any reason the builder fails to meet the warranty obligations (such as if the firm goes out of business), the insurance may cover warrantable items over and above a one-time deductible.
One of the most attractive features for the consumer is that if a dispute over warranty coverage arises, an impartial third party often will mediate. The dispute settlement procedure often costs the consumer nothing, and it is faster, more efficient, less expensive and less emotionally draining than filing a lawsuit.
There are several insured warranty programs on the market; not all of them offer the same coverage. Take the time to read through your warranty documents, and become familiar with the most important elements. If you don't understand something, ask questions.
Working With the Builder
After you select a builder, cooperation is essential, especially if you are purchasing a custom-built home or a home that is still under construction. If the builder asks you for a decision, answer as quickly as reasonably possible after giving the matter adequate consideration. And once you reach a decision, stick with it. Don't change your mind the next day.
Of course you will want to check on the progress of construction now and then, but do not loiter around the construction site. If you do visit, stay out of the workers' way and abide by safety rules. You can ask questions, but do not start arguments on the job site. If you want to change something, put your instructions in writing and expect to pay for the changes.
Stay in close contact with your builder during the final stages of construction, because unexpected delays can push back the move-in date. Supply shortages, bad weather, and other factors beyond the control of the builder could delay the completion of your house.
All in all, be cautious and thorough when selecting the builder of your new home. Once you have moved in and have become comfortably settled, you will realize that it was well worth the effort.
Final Inspection
Before settlement, you and your builder will "walk through" the house to conduct a final inspection. The walk-through should be scheduled long enough before settlement to give the builder adequate time to remedy any problems you discover.
The most efficient way to handle a walk-through is to use a checklist. The list should include everything that needs attention, with a timetable for repairs.
Some items may have to be corrected after settlement; for instance, if your walk-through is in the winter, your builder may have to delay landscaping adjustments until spring. You and your builder should agree on repair dates for such items. Both of you should have signed copies of the checklist to prevent misunderstandings.
Builders prefer to remedy problems before you move in, because it is easier for them to work in an empty house.
Outside Grading
- 1. Does the ground around the foundation slope away from the house?
- 2. Make sure that water does not pond in swales. To check, water the areas with a hose if possible.
- 3. Are there signs of erosion?
- 4. Is shrubbery placed at least 2-3 feet from the foundation?
- 5. Are the basement window wells clean and graveled?
Roof and Gutters
- 1. Are the shingles flat and tight?
- 2. Is the flashing securely in place?
- 3. Do the gutters, downspouts, and splash blocks drain away from the house?
Exterior Appearance
- 1. Are all windows and doors sealed and protected by weather-stripping?
- 2. Are the trim and fittings tight? Are there any cracks?
- 3. Does the paint cover the surfaces and trim smoothly?
Inside
Doors and Windows
- 1. Are all doors and windows sealed?
- 2. Do they open and close easily?
- 3. Are they of the type specified in the contract?
- 4. Is all glass properly in place? Is any loose or cracked?
Finishes
- 1. Is the painting satisfactory in all rooms, closets, and stairways?
- 2. Did the painters miss any spots?
- 3. Are the trim and molding in place?
Floors
- 1. Is the carpet tight? Do the seams match?
- 2. Are there any ridges or seam gaps in vinyl tile or linoleum?
- 3. Do the floors squeak?
- 4. Are wooden floors properly finished?
Appliances
- 1. Do the major appliances operate properly?
- 2. Are all the appliances the color and model you ordered?
- 3. Check all faucets and plumbing fixtures, including toilets and showers, to make sure they operate properly?
- 4. Check all electrical fixtures and outlets. Bring a hair dryer to test the outlets.
- 5. Do the heating, cooling, and water heating units operate properly? Turn them on to make sure.
- 6. Does the fireplace draft and damper work?
- 7. Are there any nicks, scratches, cracks, or burns on any surfaces, including cabinets and countertops?
- 8. Test the doorbell. Also test the intercom system, garage door opener, and any other optional items.
Basement and Attic
- 1. Are there indications of dampness or leaks?
- 2. Are there any cracks in the floors or foundation walls?
- 3. Are there any obvious defects in exposed components (such as floor joists, I-beam, support columns, insulation, heating ducts, plumbing, electrical, etc.)?
Show Low Office Randolph Tenney, Broker 60 South White Mountain Rd. Show Low, Arizona 85901 Office: (928) 532-1111 Toll Free: (800) 237-6230 Email: info@gmactenney.com |
Pinetop/Lakeside Office Mark Rodenborn, Branch Manager 1413 E. White Mountain Blvd. Pinetop, Arizona 85935 Office: (928) 367-3100 Toll Free: (800) 422-6812 Email: info@gmactenney.com |
Snowflake/Taylor Office Troy Goodwin, Manager 1300 S. Main St. Snowflake, Arizona 85937 Office: (928) 536-5600 Toll Free: (866) 297-0143 Email: info@gmactenney.com |
Holbrook Office Yvonne Larson, Branch Manager 1100 W. Hopi Dr. Holbrook, Arizona 86025 Office: (928) 241-1229 Email: info@gmactenney.com |