Many of us realize that buying a home requires a fair amount of work, time and effort. Working with a realtor can take away much of the legwork involved in the home buying process, but when it comes to certain details of a home’s location and condition, that responsibility falls in the hands of the buyer. For example, if a buyer wants to know more about the local schools, potential sex offenders in the area, former meth labs or flooding, these subjects need to be researched by the buyer.
A realtor’s job is to help a buyer purchase a house, but when it comes to learning more about the surrounding area and property, that responsibility falls with the buyer. Knowing where to find current, reliable information can sometimes be challenging. Here is a list of quality resources to help buyers undertake the necessary due diligence to further safeguard against any surprises.
Sex Offender Registry
Families with children may want to check Indiana’s Sex and Violent Offender Registry before committing to purchasing a home. Select the appropriate Indiana county, then click the blue bar in the middle of the screen to enter the property’s address.
Meth Labs
Living in or near a former meth house, isn’t a great selling point to potential home buyers. To find out if the property was used as a meth lab, or if one was nearby, visit Indiana’s Methamphetamine Investigation System, and on the left side menu, select Clan Lab Addresses to get started.
Floodplains
Indiana has a lot of creeks and rivers that run through it, which makes it common for a home to be near a floodplain. When speaking with the insurance company ask about the need for flood insurance, but also check the Indiana Floodplain Information Portal, for visual representation about a property’s proximity to potential flooding. If a home is located in a floodplain or flood zone, flood insurance may be required.
Schools
Being near great schools is an excellent selling point, and an attraction for families with school-aged children. In addition to speaking with people who may have children that attend the local schools, it’s also a good idea to visit www.GreatSchools.org and enter the city’s name to find a list of schools in the area. This site uses a 1-10 rating on topics such as student progress, test scores, income, diversity, students with disabilities and provides general information, such as start and end times.
While a realtor is great at negotiating an offer, providing feedback and making sure all the paperwork is completed and turned in correctly, there are a few details that need addressed by the prospective buyer. A realtor cannot know what a family’s tolerance is for being within a certain mile radius of a sex offender or if being close to a floodplain is a deal breaker. These resources can help buyers make an educated decision about a future property.
Dawn McClara is owner of Whalen Realty Group, and has worked in residential real estate for more than 15 years. She’s a licensed realtor, broker, is a member of MIBOR and a Homes for Heroes preferred realtor. She can be reached at dawn.mcclara@talktotucker.com.