The Arizona Home Buyer: Things to Look For

For most people, the biggest secured investment is their home. With that opportunity comes a lot of careful decision-making. Using the Home Buyer's Checklist below will help you wade through all of the characteristics of two or three houses, at a time, and helps you identify what you really want as a first-time home buyer.

So, to help you prioritize your "likes" list from the computer to the list of houses you visit, take this Home Buyer Checklist along when we go shopping for your house. Highlight the items that are most important to you. It'll help you put things into perspective and use realistic ways to measure the homes you're seeing. Using this list, you can compare and contrast the attributes of up to three homes. Click here to print this page.

Home Buyer Checklist	1	2	3
Home Address
Listing Price	$	$	$
Real Estate Taxes	$	$	$
The Neighborhood
Miles Away From the Job
Miles Away From Schools
Close to Shops
Miles Away From Highways
Close to Public Transportation
Minutes Away From Hospitals
Miles Away From Place of Worship
Garbage Collection
Street Lights
Bike Friendly
Streets / Alleys Well-Maintained
Type of Traffic
Parks
Neighbors' Properties Well-Maintained
All Utilities Available
Neighborhood Rules
Minutes Away From Airports / Trains
Area Zoned Residential
Near Industry
Proposed Special Assessments
Green-Friendly Neighborhood
The House
Year Home Built
No. of Stories
Wood Frame, Brick Frame or Siding
Quality of Roof
Quality of Foundation
General Exterior Condition
Garage Size
No. of Bathrooms
No. of Closets
No. of Bedrooms
Oil, Gas or Electric Heat
Insulation
Central Air Conditioning
Energy-Conservation Features
Age of Heating System
Age of Water Heater
Capacity of Water Heater
Age of Electrical Wiring
Plumbing Quality
Estimated Water Bill	$	$	$
Estimated Heating Bill	$	$	$
Estimated Electric Bill	$	$	$
Living Room
Fireplace
Separate Dining Room
Family Room
Carpeting - No. of Rooms
Kitchen Eating Area
Refrigerator
Stove / Oven (Gas / Electric)
Garbage Disposal
Dishwasher
Broken / Drafty Windows
Storm Windows / Screens
Washer / Dryer Outlets
Laundry Space
Converted Basement
Attic
Sump Pump / Drainage
Connected to Sewer System
Patio / Deck
Backyard Fence
Curb Appeal
Property Boundaries
Safety (dead bolts, detectors)
Building Code
Compliance
Ability to Renovate / Expand Home