Our search for a dream home began after 20 years of hard work. As James said in the episode “We had to eat, sleep and breathe air conditioning for over 20 years to get to this point.” This is still true as we celebrate our 25th anniversary of delivering cool comfort to DFW homes. We still eat, sleep, breathe Air Conditioning, and we’ve also expanded our services to include Electric, Plumbing, Security and Home Automation. Guaranteed Right, Day or Night!
Like most house hunters, we started with a list of “must haves” when we began the search for our dream home. Location, square footage, outdoor space are all basic search criteria, but most house hunters focus in on cosmetic or visible must haves. If you’re a House Hunters fan, it’s not uncommon to see granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, man caves, media rooms and walk-in closets on the hunter’s want list. If you watched our episode, the want list was pretty simple. I wanted more room and a nice kitchen, while James just wanted a garage and no snakes!
You can watch the full episode here.
There are a few other considerations we made before purchasing our home, that didn’t make the episode, we feel might be helpful for other house hunters to add to their list. These aren’t things that will visibly jump out at you when you enter a home, but they will have a large impact on your overall comfort and experience living in the home.
HVAC System – Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. It might not be as grand or noticeable as the grand entry we looking for, but a good HVAC system can make all the difference in how your home feels.
Good questions to ask are:
- What type of system does the home have? Not too big, not too small: air conditioning sizing affects comfort and efficiency.
- When was the system installed? Just like an older car, older A/C systems require more maintenance, and may not be as energy efficient as a newer system—translating into higher energy costs and other issues.
- Was the system properly maintained? Routine maintenance, tune-ups, and cleaning can extend the life of your HVAC system. The previous owner’s attention to, or lack of, maintaining the system is now passed on to you.
See our current Air Conditioning Specials or Request an Estimate.
Plumbing. Every family has different needs when it comes to plumbing. A large family may need more hot water, faster. For another family, Mom might be looking for good water pressure. If you’re the type of person that walks into a home and instantly starts the bath remodel in your head, then you should ask these types of questions:
- What type, size, and how many water heaters are in the home? Again, too big, too small, tank or tankless, it all makes a difference in the hot water experience you will have in your new home.
- Wanting to renovate? Simple to larger renovation projects can get costly. A plumbing renovation may require cutting into walls and flooring, make sure you consider these extra costs if the renovation is a “must have.”
See our current Plumbing Specials or Request a Free Estimate.
Electrical: It is a good idea before moving to a new home to allow a licensed electrician ensure that your electrical wiring is both up to code, and operating efficiently. Sometimes rewiring a home’s electrical system can be complex and have additional costs, so you’ll want to make sure that your new home is safe before you move in. Moving or adding outlets, switches, outdoor lighting, ceiling fans or a backup generator might be considerations when buying your dream home.
See our current Electric Specials or Schedule Service.
Security and Home Automation. Safety in your home and security protection while you're away from you home is high on the list of prioroties of most home buyers. When differentiating between security systems, if there is a pre-existing system, it's important to consider these questions:
- Does the current system meet my family's needs and does it come with the house? Check if the system is staying or going. If it stays, consider that each homeowner has specific preferences that the current system system may not meet. Security and home automation technologies are continually evolving, newer systems and added features can add value and peace of mind.
- Is the home smart enough? Home automation lets you can control your home remotely from a smartphone or web-enabled device, with energy management solutions, security protection, and much more. You can remotely arm and disarm your system and control your lighting, thermostat, small appliances. You can even view pre-recorded or live video surveillance, making it feel like you never left home.
See our current Security Specials or Request a Free Estimate.
Yes, James, Jeremy and I are still enjoying our dream home, and if you are house hunting we hope you find yours. House hunting can be tough work, but whether you find a perfect move-in ready home or a charming fixer upper, providing comfort is what we do best. We'd love to be your Home Team and we promise to treat you like family.
