I have two part-time jobs. I work in an office 17 hours a week and I spend 15 or so hours a week doing housework and providing childcare for a family of 5 in exchange for room and board. In short, I'm a live-in nanny with a day job.
It's a pretty sweet gig, especially as when the family leaves town, I have the house to myself. I got particularly lucky this summer, if you can call it 'luck.' Let me explain.
There are a number of considerations to make as you assess the ability of each contractor with whom you speak. Each point is crucial to finding the contractor who is best overall for your job.
For example, there may have been a large number of layoffs or perhaps a company moved to another destination. There will be a large number of houses on the market by individuals who need to sell quickly and more willing to negotiate on price. Be aware of the general economy and the economic conditions of your buying area.
Nice Weather If you imagine in your head going house shopping you most likely will imagine going to a viewing during a nice sunny day. You have this image in your head because that is exactly when most people look. Spring and summer are the home buying season. This means two different things. The first is that there will be a lot of sellers offering their homes. This means a huge variety so you can find exactly the house you are looking for.
The second thing that summer means is that there will be a ton of buyers doing exactly what you are doing. This increase in demand leads to sellers not being willing to negotiate because if you won't pay their asking price, the buyer right behind you just might. If finding the perfect house is more important to you than price this is the perfect time for you to buy.
The house I live in is a 3 story home with a full basement, so 4 floors total. I live on the second floor of the house and rarely have needed to go to the basement. A couple of days after their return home, the mother and I are cleaning the basement and noticed that the carpet in one corner was damp and the baseboards were starting to look discolored.
Upon closer inspection we found significant water damage along a large portion of the wall in the basement and mold was present along the carpet edge and in the baseboard wood.
As you talk with them, ask each one whether he has done work similar to the job you want him to do. Also, discuss whether the contractor can do the job within your time frame. Lastly, tell him how much you are willing to spend on the project. Mark the contractors that seem to be the best choices.
Having the extra time also allows you to find a mortgage lender who will offer the terms you can afford. Find this mortgage offer before you start looking seriously for houses. It will remove the stress of buying your home and will save you time.
Another interesting note is that there may actually be tax benefits to purchasing your home. If you are near the end of a year talk to a tax preparer or attorney to figure out if you should buy immediately or wait till the end of the year to make your purchase.
If you hope to live in Alice, Texas or any other area there is also the option to hire a general contractor to build you a home. If not a house, perhaps a condo or an apartment. Remember there are many different options. However if a purchasing a house is what you are set on remember whatever your preference is there is a time to match it. Be aware of the best time to purchase a home and be flexible and patient as you look.
It's a pretty sweet gig, especially as when the family leaves town, I have the house to myself. I got particularly lucky this summer, if you can call it 'luck.' Let me explain.
There are a number of considerations to make as you assess the ability of each contractor with whom you speak. Each point is crucial to finding the contractor who is best overall for your job.
For example, there may have been a large number of layoffs or perhaps a company moved to another destination. There will be a large number of houses on the market by individuals who need to sell quickly and more willing to negotiate on price. Be aware of the general economy and the economic conditions of your buying area.
Nice Weather If you imagine in your head going house shopping you most likely will imagine going to a viewing during a nice sunny day. You have this image in your head because that is exactly when most people look. Spring and summer are the home buying season. This means two different things. The first is that there will be a lot of sellers offering their homes. This means a huge variety so you can find exactly the house you are looking for.
The second thing that summer means is that there will be a ton of buyers doing exactly what you are doing. This increase in demand leads to sellers not being willing to negotiate because if you won't pay their asking price, the buyer right behind you just might. If finding the perfect house is more important to you than price this is the perfect time for you to buy.
The house I live in is a 3 story home with a full basement, so 4 floors total. I live on the second floor of the house and rarely have needed to go to the basement. A couple of days after their return home, the mother and I are cleaning the basement and noticed that the carpet in one corner was damp and the baseboards were starting to look discolored.
Upon closer inspection we found significant water damage along a large portion of the wall in the basement and mold was present along the carpet edge and in the baseboard wood.
As you talk with them, ask each one whether he has done work similar to the job you want him to do. Also, discuss whether the contractor can do the job within your time frame. Lastly, tell him how much you are willing to spend on the project. Mark the contractors that seem to be the best choices.
Having the extra time also allows you to find a mortgage lender who will offer the terms you can afford. Find this mortgage offer before you start looking seriously for houses. It will remove the stress of buying your home and will save you time.
Another interesting note is that there may actually be tax benefits to purchasing your home. If you are near the end of a year talk to a tax preparer or attorney to figure out if you should buy immediately or wait till the end of the year to make your purchase.
If you hope to live in Alice, Texas or any other area there is also the option to hire a general contractor to build you a home. If not a house, perhaps a condo or an apartment. Remember there are many different options. However if a purchasing a house is what you are set on remember whatever your preference is there is a time to match it. Be aware of the best time to purchase a home and be flexible and patient as you look.
About the Author:
MBA Construction, a general contractor in ND provides all types of construction. We specialize in design-build, build-to-print and commercial construction in the energy, industrial & medical industries.