When you're looking for your new Santa Cruz home you probably know how many bedrooms you want, what kind of kitchen is important to you, how many bathrooms are necessary, but there's much more to consider before you fall in love.
More to Surroundings than Just Landscaping
When you walk into a prospective Santa Cruz home and fall in love, it's often easy to lose the big picture. Take a look around outside too. Is the home close to factories, railroads, airports, power plants or other disturbing or potentially dangerous installations? A beautiful home on a lake, river or other body of water might seem like Nirvana but is it properly situated in case that water rises?
Older Homes Have Classic Beauty and Classic Hazards
Older homes were often built with materials we now know are hazardous such as asbestos and lead (pipe solder, paint). These materials may be costly to cover up or dangerous to remove without professional help.
Older homes may also have oil tanks, propane tanks and cisterns that can be hazardous if they are not in good condition. Areas with a high water table may also be unstable and could cause sink holes, especially on sandy soil types. If you have small children who will be playing in your yard, it's a good idea to check those items before you fall in love with a piece of property.
Routine Checks
If the home has a septic system, test it to ensure the efficiency of the system. You should also ask the current owner when the tank was most recently pumped. A clean system may throw a good test and back up on you the day after you move in—a very unpleasant surprise.
When it comes to a purchase as important as a new Santa Cruz home, be sure you know exactly what you are getting before you jump.
If you would like any more information on what to look for when considering a new home, give me a call today at 831.662.6522 or email me at lauren@laurenspencer.com
LINKS:
Posted by Lauren Spencer on
Leave A Comment