Hamilton is a thriving city with a strong economy driven by the steel industry and has a great reputation for its hospitals and educational facilities.
Hamilton real estate is also among the most reasonably priced when compared to other major cities in Canada.
You’re unlikely to ever find the perfect home that answers all your questions to your satisfaction. There’s always the possibility of some home improvements being required.
If you are looking for housing options in Hamilton, their city council has produced “A Guide for Finding a Home in Hamilton” and it includes several questions you need to be asking yourself when looking at the different housing options in the city.
This guide is particularly useful when you are comparing one potential home with another.
General Information
You probably know how many bedrooms you are wanting, but if it’s not a stand-alone house but an apartment or flat, is it in a building with an elevator and what floor is it on? Think of the broken elevator in “The Big Bang Theory” TV show! That reminds me of laundry. Are their shared facilities on site?
Does it come with all the necessary appliances, or are there some you will need to buy? Then again if you already have appliances, you will prefer a place without appliances.
Parking and especially garbage recycling can be items you might forget to consider.
Location, Location, Location
Often said to be the three most crucial factors in real estate, is the location close to buses, laundromats, supermarkets, work or school, doctors or a hospital?
Safety
This is where you want to check the doors and windows, smoke alarms, fire exits, and doorbells.
In an apartment building, how easy is it to enter the building? This is not just about keeping undesirable people out, but also making the building easily accessible when you have guests arriving or have something to be delivered.
I live on a small street with 4 apartment buildings, so none of the buildings is numbered. When ordering meal deliveries, the drivers often make it to the street but have no idea which building I live in. Of course, they could just read the delivery instructions I put with my order. Still, it’s a constant hassle, it would be so much easier if the buildings were numbered, or buildings had better signage.
Are you on a busy road? If you are, it might be quite noisy, and it is a potential danger if you have young children.
Quality
Of course, the better quality the higher the price, and vice versa.
The question really should be, is the quality in line with the cost?
More generally, you should check that all the appliances work, that there is enough hot water for the number of people who will be living there, that the plumbing works and that the toilet flushes okay.
Don’t forget to look for any signs of pests, meaning mice, cockroaches, bed buds, etc.
Costs and Lease
Whether you are buying or renting, the benefit of visiting several potential homes gives you the opportunity to compare what you are getting for what sort of cost.
But as well as the purchase price or the weekly rent, you also need to consider how much you will be paying for electricity, water, gas, etc. A high-power bill might indicate a lack of insulation or ineffective insulation.
There are lots of distinct factors to consider when buying or renting a home. Having a guide to ensure you don’t forget some of these factors will allow you to better compare one potential home with another.
