Perform a little research before making a purchase to ensure you will not be shocked by the extra expenses and time associated with operating or maintaining your purchase. Ask the salesperson to provide the information or simply research the Internet.

     Many people jump into purchasing a house, which is the largest purchase of their life, without realizing the associated costs for simply living in the house, not to mention the necessities that need to be purchased. Before purchasing a home, determine the property taxes by contacting the county tax office, determine the utility costs by contacting the local utility companies asking for the average usage of the property you are considering purchasing, and determine the costs associated with buying and moving into that home.

     Most of the homeowner insurance companies participate in a database containing the claims filed for home. The Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (C.L.U.E.) is a report available to homeowners detailing every claim filed, even the ones that were not paid by the insurance company, on a house for the past five years. The report is a good idea to be obtained by a homeowner before selling a home to ensure there are no inaccuracies the same as obtaining a personal credit report. The report can be a positive selling point. Only the homeowner can request a report, not a prospective buyer. The prospective buyer can request a copy from the homeowner which would be in their best interest if the buyer won't purchase the home without one. The C.L.U.E. report can be purchased for a fee at http://www.choicetrust.com.

     A great resource for obtaining more information about purchasing a home can be found at http://www.housebuyingtips.com.

     Don't jump into a purchase only to realize afterwards that you can't afford it requiring you to sell it at a much reduced price.


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