Things You Need to Consider Before Buying a House

Buying a house in the State of Maine in the United States can be so exciting. There’s a lot to enjoy: the wide-open spaces, the bustling cultural and art hubs, and the beautiful scenery. Anyone would love to call Maine his/her home. Nevertheless, you must ask yourself several questions now that you’re coming to stay in a pine tree state. Read on to find out the things you need to consider before buying a house:

How Prepared Are You to Buy a House in Maine?

Readiness while buying a house has many facets, all of which you must critically think through. Have you ever been to Maine? Are you prepared for the winter? Are you ready to drive in the ice and snow? Furthermore, your house’s location can influence your access to services in Maine. For instance, circumstances can force you to travel many miles before you get to the nearest store. Think about the amenities you cannot survive without. 

Consider the activities and lifestyle you want to enjoy. If you adore Kayaking,  you should buy a home near a public area. Similarly, if you would love to snowmobile in the winter, you must have access to trails. Inquire about internet connectivity if you intend to work remotely. Remember, internet availability is not always a guarantee in Maine, depending on your location.

The House Value

In Maine, you must look keenly at the house quality before you buy it. Home valuers at Repair Pricer recommend that when the house is old, you should follow this free home inspection checklist; the electrical connectivity, the roofing, and the foundation. Any defects on these critical aspects of the house can be too costly; avoid them by all means possible. Further, all these determine the safety and the durability of the house. 

You must check whether the house has some toxic hazards in the form of led paint. Homes built before 1978 most likely have lead paint, so be careful. Your inspection reports can reveal whether the house has some toxins. Ensure your seller fills out a lead paint addendum to disclose whether the house has any lead paint. You can also request further testing if you doubt the seller’s revelation. You must also have a keen eye on radon, even in newer houses and old homes built with granite.

The House Insulation and Heating

Maine is a winter state. You need some well-maintained heating systems to survive the cold. Ensure your home inspector ascertains whether the heating systems are well serviced. Inquire about how many times the previous house owner has serviced them. Alternatively, you can also check the sticker on the furnaces to see how many times the homeowner has serviced the system. Ensure all these systems are up to snuff before you pay a penny. Check whether the house has a backup heater like a fireplace to burn wood or a generator. You’ll need them in case of an outage.

Check the house’s insulation system and be privy to how much fuel the house burns annually. Ensure the place has good ventilation, especially in the attic. Otherwise, if the attic does not breathe, you’ll soon find mold in your house. Remember that the moisture in the home rises and causes molding. Likewise, if the house does not breathe, you’ll have trouble with air quality.

Ask About Who Clears The Snow

As a homebuyer, you probably have never had first-hand experience with any Maine winter. Therefore you may not be well prepared for the challenges that come with it. For instance, there are roads that you cannot use in the winter. In a few cases, you’ll need to have a plow truck. You can also join an existing road network that plows and salts the road.

Fortunately, most municipalities have working snow eradication policies. However, if your house shall be in a very remote place, where roads are private, be prepared to clear the snow on your bill. Furthermore, if your street is private but maintained by the town service, you must have a strategy to clear your driveway.

Does the Property have a Wet Basement?

Snowy winters predominantly thaw in the spring at Maine. Therefore, you should not be surprised to find many wet basements. The state’s older housing also makes it susceptible to wet basements. Likewise, older homes more easily take on moisture due to their foundation status. You must therefore have clear protocols for water drainage. Also, ascertain whether the basement has a perfect drainage system.

You must check whether the water has channels to the yard. Excess water should flow to the yard to prevent excess floods. Also, be sure that the water flows away from your house to avoid a wet basement.

The Water Proximity and Accessibility

If you can, a waterfront faculty is more desirable. Such a house also has a higher resale value in case you choose to in the future. Similarly, such a house can attract some hidden costs. You can also incur extra property tax on the shorelines. The on-site septic systems in waterfront facilities also want regular maintenance, drawing some more costs.

For a waterfront facility,  authorities may also restrict you to plants and the pets you can keep. You may also have restrictions on what you can cut to prevent soil erosion. Before you pay for the house, check whether it is in a flood zone despite the size of the nearby water body.

Land Use

Are you already fantasizing about rearing chickens and having a herb garden? Check the zoning laws to be sure you can do that. Some towns in Maine do not even allow for people to keep roosters. Others also have a limit to the number of chickens you can rear. You must clearly understand the land use patterns. Some properties can also have deed restrictions in public accessways for open land.

Some parts of the state have wood that you must not maintain, but others also have wood fields that you must mow once annually. Some rural towns in the state do not have zoning laws. This aspect may also come with some risks. For instance, a pig farmer can open up next to the grocery shop. You can also have someone set up a mobile home next to your home. To avoid all these, understand all the land use and maintenance policies.

Buying a home can be life-fulfilling. However, you must be careful about the quality of the product. Look into all the nitty-gritty, including the plumbing and electric connections.  Ensure you understand all the land use patterns and the accessibility of the essential services. With all the above factors considered, you can enjoy being a homeowner.