Real Estate Agents: Don’t Buy a House Unless It Has All 7 of These Features

That feeling of walking into a house for the first time and imagining your life within its walls can be exciting. The kitchen with the marble countertops will be the site of many culinary masterpieces. And you’re already anticipating the game nights you’ll hold in the living room, not to mention the garden parties in the backyard.

However, before you mentally paint the walls or plan your décor, there are a few features you must be on the lookout for — or else your dream home could become a nightmare. To learn more about the must-have features that any homebuyer should seek out before they sign any contract, GOBankingRates talked to a few real estate agents and experts.

You can knock down walls and even add on a deck, but you can’t pick up a house and drop it down in a new ZIP code. According to Seamus Nally, CEO of TurboTenant, finding the right location means determining what your priorities are.

If you have, or are planning to eventually have, children, you’ll want to consider the school districts. Factors like safety, views and noise levels are also essential to your well-being, whether you have a family or live alone. You may also want to ponder whether living near a hospital or healthcare facility is important to you.

“While you can change most anything about a home’s structure or design if you want, you can’t change the location, which is why it’s so important to consider carefully,” he said.

The sewer and septic systems might not be the most glamorous parts of any home, but they are certainly some of the most essential. That’s why Brian Mollo, licensed real estate agent and CEO of Trusted House Buyers, has encouraged his clients to order inspections for sewer lines and septic systems.

“If the inspection comes back as a ‘fail,’ I advise them to walk away. Sewer line issues can be very expensive to fix, and if you don’t fix them, the damage can be astronomical,” he said.

As a managing partner and team founder at Re/Max Fine Properties, Melissa Dierks, Realtor, CMRS, is well aware of must-haves for any house. She has advised prospective homebuyers to work with their realtors to ensure that the “big ticket” items of a home, or the crucial components that keep everything safe and running effectively, are in good condition.

These items encompass everything from the property’s heating, cooling and electrical systems to elements like plumbing and water heaters. If your hoped-for home has a pool or spa on the grounds, you should also make sure that it is in good condition.

When Mollo is looking to buy a property, one of his first concerns is its structural integrity. He said that if a home’s foundation is problematic, he’d think twice about moving forward with a deal.

“As far as investments go, I look for opportunities that don’t require enormous projects that would decrease the ROI,” he said.

Do you like having overnight guests? Anticipate a partner someday moving in with you? Or are you hoping for a home office where you can launch a side hustle? Thinking about your life goals will help you determine the number of rooms — including bathrooms — that you’ll need in your home.

Sarah Strohschein, a real estate advisor with Engel and Völkers, has phrased the key question simply: “Do you have enough rooms to comfortably live and grow in your home?”

She also said that, when thinking about the space you’ll need if you want to have regular guests, you should consider whether they can enjoy some privacy when staying with you.

Whether you’re ready to take “The Great British Bake Off” by storm or have mastered the fine art of cereal for dinner, you’ll need a kitchen space that suits your needs in terms of layout, features and functionality.

“The kitchen is often the biggest selling point of a home,” said Strohschein. “Consider how much you cook and how much storage you need. Is the layout conducive to your lifestyle? Do you entertain a lot? Is there space to casually sit for an afternoon snack?”

She also added that you should keep an eye out for a dishwasher, garbage disposal, pantry or kitchen island that will make inhabiting your kitchen more pleasurable.

While the old saying that “it’s what’s on the inside that counts” may be true for people, it’s not true for homes.

Kurt Carlton, president and co-founder of New Western, shared that a home’s curb appeal greatly contributes to its overall value.

“Curb appeal is another major selling point for end buyers, so investing in the home’s exterior through landscaping, painting and maintaining a clean façade can significantly improve buyer appeal,” he said.