• Date: May 12, 2016

When looking for a place to put down roots, homeowners do seem to have some clear preferences. They want great neighborhoods close to work.

Buyers ranked the quality of neighborhood, convenience to job as the most important considerations when selecting a place to live. Close to public transportation, convenience to friends and family, quality of the school district, and proximity to shopping and leisure activities also topped the list.

Here are tips a buyer must remember before buying any property, specially if you are buying a property from a developer :

No. 1 Location, Location, Location.

You can buy the right home in the wrong location. You can change the structure, remodel it or alter the home's layout but you cannot move it. It's attached to the land. The best locations are those in prime spots – at city centers, near shopping malls, churches, marketplaces, restaurants, and major transportation hubs. The close proximity allows you to reduce commute time and costs.

If you are concerned about your children's education, a home that is located near in a highly desirable school district will be the best choice.

Most people do not want to endure long commutes to work, the doctor's office nor the airport. They prefer to be located close to emergency services and conveniences, so naturally homes in locations that shorten travel time are more desirable. A home close to the airport can be an advantage if you’re a frequent flier because it will reduce the time it takes to get to and from your destinations.

Airports often are connected to public transportation lines, which can make your travels easier as well. Also being close to business and retail developments can increase property value.

Some buyers prefer corner locations, but most homebuyers want to be in the middle of the street, which makes them feel less vulnerable.

No. 2 Visit at Various Times of the Day

This would be very helpful because you can check the surrounding of the property in different hours of the day, examples are traffic noises during rush hour or noise of people on the streets, also consider the location of the property if it is near public amenities like playgrounds or clubhouses, that would probably generate a lot of noise during the afternoon or weekend mornings.

No. 3 Ask the Sellers

What problems are they aware of that the house, even if they’ve been fixed. Be it physical or legal to be assured that there wouldn’t be any additional problems after the purchase the property. Virtually all houses have defects. From flaky paintwork to leaky sinks, put aside some cash for unexpected property maintenance. Strongly consider getting inspections not just for purposes of damages, but also with pest.

No. 4 Consider the View

It would be useful if you have an open space near your property or if not, a comfortable proximity from your neighbors. You wouldn’t want to see another window just meters away from yours and destroy your privacy.

No. 5 Check the Amenities

The last thing you want to discover after buying a house is that things don't work properly, particularly those amenities that dragged you to buy the unit in the first place. If, for example, the swimming pool is one of the things that you like best, make sure that it is cleaned regularly and open at the hours that you want access. There are, of course, the basic checks, such as making sure that the gas, water and electricity all work.

No. 6 Explore the Surrounding Area

Except if you are already familiar with the area you are moving to, take time to walk around the area surrounding your investment, there might be illegal settlers around that might lead to unwanted circumstances or if you are near small rivers or creeks that might result to flooding during the rainy season.

Also if you are near an airport, a fire station, hospital or train track (especially near the Makati-Manila border) expect to hear planes, sirens and ambulances on a daily basis. Make sure that you’re not too close to an agricultural area as well, as it may generate odors and kick up dust and other airborne problems.

No. 7 Trust a Reputable Developer

The problem with heated markets is that it attracts amateurs that want to get in on the action. But, more often than not, these products lack quality and design. They may look good on paper, but the underlying issues will make you want to leave the unit faster than you moved in.

Try to buy from a local developer that has a portfolio of successful products in the neighborhood. They might be a bit pricey than the others but the quality and (maybe in the future) the resale value would still be good. Try to visit their other projects and get a glimpse from there.

No. 8 Check the Contract

Check every provision of the Contract to sell that you are going to sign including the annexes. A licensed real estate broker should be able to explain to you in layman terms all the legal terms expressed in all documents that you need to sign. You might want to consider hiring a lawyer for this purpose but this is not customary in large project developments as the documents are standardized. All the signed documents will be notarized and you should have a copy of one original notarized document.

No. 9 Ask About Adjustments that Can Be Done

If you plan to make some modifications on the inside of the house, make sure that this is allowed by the developer and up to what extent they allow. There are developers who would not allow any changes in their plans but there are those who entertain changes and can be negotiated.

No. 10 Choose a Licensed Real Estate Broker

It's best to choose a Licensed Real Estate Broker or Agent you can trust with proven records of good and honest service and has extensive knowledge of the local area. Check for loyalty on previous work experiences. Only choose licensed professionals as the unlicensed (“Colorum”) are now strictly monitored by government authorities and prohibited to practice real estate profession in the Philippines.

Even if licensed, have preference over independent brokers/agents compared to in-house agents. The in-house agents of developers are strictly not allowed to sell the projects of their competitors and therefore can be expected to be biased on their own projects.

These factors will help you, if not make up your mind, but give you the right options in buying your dream house.

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