Buying a new home - The prepper view

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SheepDog

Awesome Friend
Neighbor
HCL Supporter
Joined
Dec 3, 2017
Messages
9,319
Location
SE Washington State
OK, you have decided the state is friendly to your personal situation, there are good schools for the kids and a nearby church you think will work. The tax rate is moderate and cost of living is good while jobs are plentiful and the economy is growing. You have to choose a new home.
This discussion is on homes that are already built not on building your own - that is another, rather complex, discussion.
Is the land you have restricted for garden size or what fruit you can grow? Is there enough usable area for your garden?
Is there a private well for potable water or are you required to be served by the city/county?
The house:
Are the walls fastened to the foundation? How close together are the ties? What kind of sheathing is used on the exterior walls? How much insulation is in the walls and over the ceiling? What kind of siding and roofing is on the house? Is the area prone to ants and or termites? How far away is the nearest fire station and what is their average response time? Are you close to a fire hydrant? What is the heat source? Can you install a wood burning stove as a back-up? Is there a pantry in the kitchen or will you have to designate a room in the house for that? Do you have a garage and a shed? If not can you build them or is the property limited to the size and number of out buildings? Are the appliances gas or electric? Do you approve of them? Is the electrical system up to date and up to code?
Is the yard sloping away from the house? Is it in a flood area? It it protected from flood? Is the roof capable of carrying the loads in your area?; snow, sand, winds, rain and is the roof drainage system adequate to keep the foundation dry? If you have a basement is it finished? Is the concrete sealed? Is there a sump and pump in working order? Is your sewer drainage clear and free flowing? Any cracks or broken pipes?
Do the doors and windows seal when closed. Are the windows double or triple pane. You do plan on replacing the door locks with security locks, don't you?

Have you met your neighbors? Have you attended the church yet? Have you looked at the schools to make sure they are safe? Have you checked with the local police or sheriffs department to discuss crime in the area? These last items can make the difference of a happy home and a place of respite or a place that you find yourself alone or on guard all the time.

What can you add?
What would you not be concerned with?
 
I'd also look at:
Does it have public sewer or a septic system? If public, what are the rates and age/quality of what's in place (as well as backflow preventers). If septic, age, condition, last time cleaned, tank inspection and if a pump is installed, age and condition. Where does the septic discharge? (I have one system that discharges into a creek and I have to do monthly water tests and do annual filings with the State.

If public water, what's the rates and hows the quality? For well water, how is the quality of the water and any filtering systems?

Fires? Is your house surrounded by things (be it trees or other houses or whatever) that if they burn, your house may go up with it?

Garage and driveway space - Is it adequate for your vehicle needs?

If you live in a northern climate, how well is the snow removal services? What do they use for snow melt/traction? If in a hilly area, even with road treatment, can you go out in the winter? (We have hills around us that are so steep, even with the town's equipment coming through and treating the roads, you can't climb them without 4WD/AWD. Would you need a new vehicle?

How is road and ditch maintenance? If a ditch got clogged around you, would your area have water issues?

Also related to water is if there was an extreme rain storm, would your house or ground get flooded?
 
In my opinion
Find a qualified reputable house inspector or an honest contractor
spend the 3 or 4 hundred it cost for a thorough inspection of the building,roof,doors,windows foundation
and the mechanical systems

I have met hundreds of people that moved into a house with out an inspection and wind up replacing a septic system or the HVAC system.

what ever the inspector finds. have the seller put money in escrow to fix the problem.
 
1st thing I look for is where does water go during times of heavy rainfall. Is the place in a flood plain, even a 500 yr plain. After that in no particular order, septic system type and maintenance, water availability (city water or well,spring, creek, river). House items roof type and condition, siding, electric, foundation. then you might have out buildings, land type (forested or open fields, or maybe a blend). Land taxes are a big thing, can you get a agriculture break on them.
There are lots to think about, what do you want from the property, just a place to live in peace, do you want to grow a lot of your own food, raise animals, sell timber. Make your own power even.
 
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