S Make a purchase list

IF you’re thinking of
purchasing a home,
you’ve probably already
started looking.

You may have scen quite «
few hones and it’s getting hard
to remember all the details.

Do you remember which
one had the ensuite bath and
which one had the walk-out
basement? How much storage
space did the firsy choice on
vour list have? Were appliances
included in- all of the homes
you viewed? And what about
property ta and mainte-
Nance costs associated with
cach home? Can you remember
how close the home was to
local amenitics like stores,
schools, parks and che hospital?

Compiling a house-hunting
checklist as you go through the
homes is an cllent way of
keeping track of features and
drawbacks of cach home.

Develop a form for yourseu
that includes space for all the
standard questions like loca

~ tion, asking price, annual prop-
erty taxes, mortgage terms and
includes a checklist of other
items that are important to you
and your family. Your realtor
can help you with this.

Here is a general checklist

- when viewing the interior and
exterior of a home:

Jot down your impressions
of. the exterior of the home,

. Roting the lot size and shape,
position of the house on the lot
(facing north or south, east or
west), and whether it has a pri-
vate or shared driveway. Also
note whether it has a large
front, side, and ‘backyard and
what condition the landscaping

isin and whether there sre
Many duature tees and shrubs.

What npe of siding does
the home have and what kind
of shape iy ti hed
home or half eta duplex? How
many stories does it have?
Don't forger to yet down
whether it haan attached: or
detached garage and whether ir
ean acconnmodate one or two
cars. Abo note whether there is
a porch or verandah. storage
shed and whether the vard_ is
fenced. How private is) the

While still outside, take a
good look at the roof and nere
its general condition and age.
Check te see if any roof repairs
were made recently.

Interior

Once you've completed
your checklist for the exterior,
it’s time to move indoors.
Make a note of the total num-
ber of rooms in the home.

Check all windows and note
whether they are single pane or
thermopane. Do they open and
close without sticking? What
about the doors? Also make a
note of their general condition
and whether the locks and
latches work.

The kitchen is an essential
part of any home, so note its
general size and colors,
whether it has an eat-in arca
and sufficient cupboard space.
Is there a pantry or food prepa-
ration island? What condition
are the countertops and sink in?
Are the cupboards old or new?
What shape is the floor in and
what is it made of? Is the exist-
ing lighting adequate for carry-
ing out kitchen tasks, as well as
dining? Also make sure there
are enough outlets to run your

NEWS photo Cindy Goodman

HOME shopping is made easy when you keep a
detailed checklist of the features and faults of each
home that you visit during your hunt.

appliances. Arc the fridge,
stove, and dishwasher included
with the sale? Are they all oper-
ational? Note how many burn-
ers the stove has and whether
it’s gas or electric.

Once you've completed
your kitchen checklist, move to
the dining room and note its

.| (BRUCE MILLER» —
6575656 ©

‘

1/4 ACRE FULLY

BRITISH
PROPERTIES

size, whether it's separate from
the kitchen and the condition
of the floors and walls. Are
there any built-in cupboards? Is
the chandelier being sold with
the house? Take similar notes
for the living room. Is there a
fireplace? How many windows
are there and what are their

Wilf McAlister
916-6346

Friday, August 21, 1998 — North Shore News — 67

sizes? Do the window coverings
stav when the house is sold?

If the home has a fenih
room, note whether its close
or adjacent to the kitchen, it it
has access ta outdoors and if it
has a fireplace or wood stove, Ts
the stove CSA approved?

Move on te the becdreame
abd note their size anc closet
Space and whether there are any
window coverings or adjoining
bathrooms. Abo nore the npe
of flooring in’ cach sedroom
and the colors the rooms are
painted.

Make notes on the number

¢ of bathroopy and the
condition of the fixtures. Check
all faucets and flush: toilets to

they are in) good

there is adequate water pres-
sure. Look for signs of inould

these are warning signs of inad-
equate ventilation.
Basement

Next, move to the base-
ment. Note whether it is full or
partially finished-or untinisied.
ts there adequate headroom for
moving about? Is there a fire-
place or wood-burning stove?
Also look for signs of moisture
such as water marks and peeling
paint. Note whether there is a
utility area and whether the
washer an. dryer are being sold
with the house. Again, look for
signs of water damage.

Find out if any recent reno-
vations have been made to the
home. It’s also very important
to ask about the type of heat-
ing, water service, plumbing
(copper or other) and clectzical
amperage. Is the hot water
heater owned or rented? Is it
gas or electric and what is its

hd check it twice ~

capacity? Whar type of insula
tion isin the house?

Ask vour realtor about any
details youre unsure of) By
arming yourself with a checklist
and finding out all the pert
nent infermation ahead of
time, youll And the process
much more enjovably and
much fess daunting.

Your checklist

For peace of mind vou may
wish to have a certified home
Inspector provide you with a
derailed report an the condi:
tien at the hore, but adding
the following general checklist
to the questions already noted
may help ensure the home
meets vour needs:

B How many square teet of liv-

ing space are there? How many

rooms?

@ What type of floors are
neath the carpeting?

@ Are the room sizes adequate

for your needs, including stor-

age and closet space?

@ Do windows and doors open

and close easily?

@ What is included in the sale:

appliances, ete.?

Is a property condition dis-
closure statement available?
This form provides information
akout the state of the property
ty all potential buyers.

@ What is the zoning on the
property, and on surrounding
propertics? What changes to
the immediate vicinity can be
expected?

® Are there any restrictive
covenants, i.c., specific limita-
tions on such things as usc,
occupancy, exterior finish? Arc
there any easements, i.c., rights
or privileges one party may
have to use the land for a spe-
cial purpose?

"Shirley Norton
~ -760-3175

This sold well built home offers 3+
bedrooms and bright open floor
pian. Time has come to redeco-
rate but structural and mechanical
are in good shape, including 3 yr
old roof & new hot water heating
system. Landscaped lot includes
medium sized kidney shaped poot
with surrounding deck! Park-like
setting. This is a must see if you
wish to enter the British
| Properties.
775 SOUTHBOROUGH
sufton- group - priority realty
HOE PE HOt aT Mp MEE A BROKE R

522-3800.

LORIA ANDREWS
671-6066

$269,000

Great 3 bedroom plus family
room home. Hardwood
floors throughout, vaulted
f ceiling in living room. Cozy
fireplace. New roof. Quiet
fenced backyard with rear
lane access. Close to trans-
portation, shopping, French
& immersion School.

Gloria Andrews 671-6066
557 W. 23rd St.

THIS ONE HAS ALL OF YOUR
“| WANTS”!

* Location? Delbrook! Street? Quiet, child friendly!

* Direction? South facing! Lot? 70’ x 115’ eff!

* Yard? Beautifully landscaped-fully fenced!

* Condition? Updated, new kitchen & bath-super clean!

¢ Bedrooms? 3 on main + potential down! Bathrooms? 1 full + 1-2 pce!
« inlaw/Nanny suite? Great potential down! Parking? Covered carport!
¢ School catchment? Highland/Handswerth!

BETTER HURRY!
ASKING $429,000

— —
‘sutton group: resource realty
ARMHOPPE HOENT MERIBER BROKFR

sutton group.~city gate

AN INDE PE NORTT BENGE R BROKEA ; 581 -9799 . 91 66346 tr i