First and foremost, do your "homework"! If you are in a financial position to shop for a new home, get educated. From personal experience, I can tell you how to avoid some serious blunders. Though some appear humorous, these were real experiences we ran into.

Mistake #1. It is extremely easy to get caught up in the cosmetics of a home. The house can appear to have great curb appeal. Only upon close inspection did we see that the new vinyl siding was just a cover-up of partially rotting wall boards which should have been replaced. Inspect closely!

Mistake #2. Read all proposals/agreements very carefully and only when you are physically and mentally well rested. Never sign anything unless you understand completely every word on every page. We were told the house had been approved for an in-law apartment, only to go to the Town Hall records to find out a request for an in-law apartment had been made but NOT signed by the officials pending their investigation. Yet, we were told by the owner (who was a real estate agent) it was a done deal!

Mistake #3. Beware of "real estate jargon". "Easy to show" can mean all you have to do is walk around the back, move a board and walk in"! "Near public transportation" translated meant a working, whistle-blowing frieght train or snow mobile trail abutting your property. "This one won't last" meant a fixer-upper ready to topple over when a good stiff wind took a mind to come to town! Humorous? Maybe, but true.

Mistake #4. If you have a network of a few or many friends who are skilled trades people, take them along when interested in a potential home. Their input can be invaluable. We discovered, or should say "uncovered" hidden mistakes in plumbing and carpentry that our untrainned eyes easily overlooked.

Mistake #5 PESTS! Be on the look-out for hiding insects. Sometimes you may see "just a few and nothing but some bug spray won't cure". Our son-in-law saw evidence of termites in one house. His comment? "The only thing holding this place together is the termites holding hands". In other words, an infestation we overlooked!

In conclusion, dont give up. Just be sure to be rested and alert when shopping. Choose a reputable real estate agent who you can trust and know your financial limits so you will shop in the right price range and be happy with your final choice! Above all remember "A home may be humble or a home may be grand, but its the love that's inside it that ensures it will stand" Happy house hunting!

Learn more about this author, Victoria Rose Perkins.
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