RENOVATION SURPRISES - HOW TO AVOID THEM

Buying a new house can come with all sorts of surprises: HOA fees, neighbors who are insanely picky about their - and your - lawn, property taxes, and renovation surprises. When it comes to the latter, there is a fine line to walk. Some of these surprises are unavoidable, but others can be dodged with a little preparation. Before buying a house, help limit the amount of surprise renovations lurking in the basement and scurrying around the attic by taking the following actions:

Have the home inspected: You probably wouldn't purchase a car without taking it to a mechanic, so why buy a house without having it looked over by someone trained to find faults? A home inspector can not only help you find existing problems, but he can also help you find potential problems. Before signing on any dotted lines, have the home looked over carefully by someone qualified and, preferably, someone not recommended by the seller.

Ask Questions: The don't ask don't tell policy can apply to a lot of things, including home sales. Sellers are clever, and real estate agents are trained to tell you what they want you to hear: together, they make quite a duo. This forces you to be on the defense: don't let them do all the talking, speak up and ask specific and aggressive questions. If they give you a reply that isn't really an answer, keep pressing until they address the question.

Go with your Gut: Like in so many other parts of life, instincts come in handy when purchasing a house.If something in your gut tells you that the real estate agent is hiding the fact that the plumbing doesn't work, or the seller seems a little too anxious to sell, listen to the red flags your stomach is urgently waving. People that appear and act like sketchy characters usually push sketchy products. And, as the mantra often goes, things that seem too good to be true usually are.

Check for Sickness: When you go house hunting, there are obvious things you look for: you want to make sure the furnace works, you want to make sure the ceiling is not falling apart, you want to be certain the floor isn't sinking. While all of these things are important, it's also important to check for illness: hire a professional to make sure the house isn't filled with things like Asbestos, Radon, or a poor Septic system.

Don't be too Picky: It's important to go over your potential house with a fine tooth comb, but don't be so picky that your expectations are nearly impossible to meet. All houses, even those that are brand new, have flaws: just like the people who built them, no house is perfect. Focus on the things that could cost you a lot of time and money and don't worry too much if you notice one tile in the bathroom is a little bit crooked….and only when you squint.