When purchasing a home anywhere it’s important to do an inspection. You need to make sure of the basics; that the home is solidly built, no leaks are occurring or if they have occurred they need to have been remediated by the seller and that the electric systems are working in the home.
Upon reading an article by Laura Gaskill, a Houzz contributor, I realized there are a few other things to ‘inspect’ and be aware of when purchasing a vacation home in S Florida. Here are a couple of items to be aware of when looking at homes in Florida.
Here in Florida, the indoor-outdoor flow is so important. During the winter season we take advantage of the relatively cool weather (for annual residents) and this flow. We eat outdoors on our lanais, we hang out, have drinks by the pool and catch some rays as well as using them as fresh air living rooms. Be sure to see what the flow is like from other areas of the home. Can you go from the kitchen to the outdoor dining room with ease or better yet, is there an outdoor kitchen? Is there a pool bath available, or do you need to traipse through the house to run to the restroom.
The amount of natural light is important in every Florida home. We need to be sure we have the correct amount of light in the home, of course Western exposure is an attribute in a home, what better way to catch our gorgeous sunsets, but that same Western exposure can lead to a very strong sun streaming into the home during afternoon hours. For sun lovers, that is nothing better, but for others it may be wise to check to see if there are built in sun shades installed to alleviate that afternoon glare.
Heating and cooling systems are a big issue here in Florida, even during our winter months. Be sure investigate the age of the current HVAC system as well as its energy rating.
Our lot lines here can be relatively small. Gated communities are such a convenience for our ‘snowbirds’ since the HOA generally takes care of landscaping, but that convenience may be compromised with the relative proximity of the houses to one another. Our concrete block construction is a terrific impediment to noise traveling between homes, but be sure to check views from every window and check the perimeter of the property to get an idea of how close you will be to your next door neighbors.
Be sure to give us a call if you have any questions. I can’t strongly stress enough the importance of having a local Realtor®, with expertise in the local market, accompany you on this journey. Houseofnaples.com is happy to work with you in finding your dream home here in Naples, FL.