Often, when you do something for the first time, there are things you don’t even know that you should be aware of, and that includes when you buy a home.
As a first-time homebuyer, you may not know what kind of problems to look for in a home, and could end up buying a home that has problems you weren’t anticipating. And one area that has a lot of problems first-time buyers tend to miss is the kitchen.
A recent article from realtor.com outlined kitchen problems people often overlook when buying their first home, including:
- Illogical layouts. Chances are, you’re going to spend a lot of time in your kitchen, so you need the layout to be functional. But many first-time homebuyers have a hard time assessing how well a home’s kitchen layout will work for their needs. Before you buy, make sure you understand the details of the kitchen layout, and how those details will impact your ability to effectively cook meals and organize your dishes, pots and pans, and other kitchen items.
- Missing appliances. When you view a home, there are often appliances in the kitchen, but that doesn’t mean those appliances stay with the home after the current owners move out. Before you make an offer, make sure you understand which appliances are staying, and what the cost will be to add new ones if the current owners are taking their appliances with them. You’ll also want to assess if there are any critical appliances missing. For example, if you can’t live without a dishwasher, you want to make sure the home you’re buying has a dishwasher in the kitchen, or has a layout that allows you to install one.
- Appliances that are the wrong sizes. Another potential appliance issue has to do with sizing. Before you make an offer on a home, it’s important to review the sizes of the appliances and make sure they can accommodate your needs. For example, you might love the look of a kitchen, but if it has a two-burner stove and you have to feed a family of six, you might need a larger stove. Or if the home comes equipped with a huge refrigerator, you might want to buy a smaller fridge if you live alone.