BE SURE TO LOOK AT THE PLOT SURVEY before closing!!! Double check all easements or other right aways on your property to avoid any surprises. You don't want to close on a house with a big back yard only to be informed that it is all easement and your use of that land is restricted.
Good luck.
This. We have underground utilities. Last 5 feet to the back fence is a no build easement. Not a big deal, fire code says 6 feet from property lines anyway. But rather than risk having our veggie garden torn up mid season if the power line needs work, it too is 6 feet from the fence.
What wasn't on the plot, or plat, was the comm wires buried in the yard. If you find thin, plastic coated wires a few inches under the ground, those are markers for the real wires further down.
First house is a ball. Make sure to make friends with the neighbors - it's really important, especially when they find your kids on their roof or painting their car tires.
Instead of big house projects, concentrate on painting each room, one at a time. Paint is the cheapest but most effective change you can make.
Spend a day and figure out what improvements are tax deductible. Make a folder NOW and you and your wife start tossing receipts in there. You won't find them at the end of the year if you don't do that.
Paint the garage before you move in. It's almost impossible to do this later... it will collect some serious crap fast.
Get into the attic and consider how you can put simple plywood flooring up there if it isn't already present. I can't believe how many people don't take advantage of this huge storage space.
Enjoy!
For sure make nice with neighbors. I got into home brewing that way.
Plan your work and work your plan. We got way over ambitious way too fast. Still fixing stuff. And re fixing stuff.
Prime before you paint. Oh, but I'm painting over white. Uh-huh. That's what I said too. Prime before you paint.
Unsealed popcorn texture on a ceiling, that junk rolls right off, onto your paint roller. Seal, remove or spray paint that junk. And the older stuff could contain asbestos.
And while you're in the attic, check for insulation.
Make sure it's not in a flood plane/zone. Home owner Insurance in those area's is insanely expensive, even if there hasn't been a flood in 20 years.
I almost bought a house once that turns out was near a creek, which the city zoned a floor plane. The insurance for that house was so expensive. And you don't usually find out about insurance cost until near closing.
No flood plain here, but the way the other yards slope makes our yard a lake in real heavy rains. Try to eyeball for that stuff. Otherwise, you'll be digging French drains and maybe even putting a sump pump in a bucket in your backyard.
And get a home inspection before signing.
And pay attention to the foundation. Cracked mortar, cracked sheet rock and a floor that looks like a wave pool are not good things. We passed on several for that reason.