When your offer on a Washington, DC home is accepted, you’ll have a number of things to do to reach the closing. Above all else, insist that all documents to be generated regarding the sale be correct. Ask your realtor to review them with you prior to the closing, so that any errors can be fixed before you sit down with the seller.

1. Immediately notify your mortgage lender, insurance company, moving or relocation firm and have your realtor schedule the closing.


2. Closings are usually done at title companies.


3. Have your realtor check all documentation regarding the sale to insure that any allowances or trade-offs are included, and that all information about the house is correct.

Once you’ve made your choice and decided to make an offer on a Washington, DC home, let the realtor do all the work. If you’re negotiating various aspects of the house or allowances the homeowner may offer, be sure the agent gets it in writing. The formal process of making an offer is a written one, so be patient. You will also want to hire an appraisal firm to evaluate the home before you make your offer.

1. Let the realtor do all the work. Offers are made in writing so scrutinize the paperwork. Be sure any allowances or trade-offs are included.


2. Hire an appraiser to evaluate the home. That input will help you finalize your offer.

Here is a checklist of things to evaluate as you tour various Washington, DC homes:

• Curbside appeal. How does the house look when you first see it?


• Adjoining residences. Are they in good repair or are they falling down?


• Do trees, grass and flowers add to the appeal of a house?


• Does the front porch and front door make a good first impression?


• Has the house been recently repainted and does the roof look sturdy?


• When you first enter the home, take a deep breath through your nose. Do you smell anything like tobacco smoke, sewage, mustiness, etc.?

Drive through the residential streets of Washington, DC and look at the homes for their architectural appeal and how they fit with the topography and landscape. Examine traffic patterns and identify where busy intersections, noisy interstates and crowded commercial areas are located, compared to where you want to buy a home.

1. Look for locations that suit your needs.


2. Avoid locations likely to be affected by traffic congestion and sprawling shopping centers or commercial development.


3. Check the Internet for news stories about flooding and storm damage.


4. Stay away from neighborhoods where the “tear-down” phenomenon is occurring. Smaller homes are replaced with oversized residences that don’t fit the neighborhood.

Deciding what kind of Washington, DC home to purchase is your second critical decision after location. If you’re married, you and your spouse must determine jointly what you want in a new home.

If you’re living in a home you intend to sell, you’ll want to discuss what you like and dislike about your current residence. Make a list of the things you want in a new home and the things you don’t want. If you have children, consider their preferences as well.

If you’re a senior or planning to retire, your decisions about a home may be determined by your (and your spouse’s) health, ability to do maintenance, retirement income, debt, savings, equity in your current residence, health facilities and climate.

Whether you’re new to the Washington, DC area or shopping for your fourth or fifth house, or even a vacation home, the old adage still holds true: the most important thing to remember is location, location, location!

Determining where you want to live, a new addition or an old, established neighborhood, the distance you’ll be commuting, streets, highways and public transportation, quality of schools, nearby shopping, public parks, churches, medical facilities and other requirements combine to make location the number one priority in a home purchase.

If you’ve lived here for some time, or possibly all of your adult life, you’ll have a fairly good knowledge of where you want to live. However, if you’re moving from out of town, you’ll need to do a Sherlock Holmesian investigation before deciding where you want to live.