You’ve already set your sights on buying in a warmer climate if you’re ready to escape the cold. Whether you relocate, buy a second home, or retire, buying a home in a warmer area requires special considerations. In a warmer climate such as San Antonio, here are 5 things to watch out for when buying:
Check the Roof
You’ve already set your sights on buying in a warmer climate if you’re ready to escape the cold. Whether you relocate, buy a second home, or retire, buying a home in a warmer area requires special considerations. In a warmer climate such as San Antonio, here are 5 things to watch out for when buying:
Your roof helps keep warm air out and cool air in, but it also protects against any moisture that may accumulate due to differences in indoor and outdoor air temperatures.
You can face high energy bills, damage to moisture, and mold and mildew without proper insulation. All of these issues can be costly to fix and can even jeopardize the family’s health and well being.
Get a thorough inspection of the roof before you buy a home and repair something troublesome.
Look at the Windows
Like your roof, when buying in a warmer climate unlike San Antonio, your windows play a major role in energy efficiency and overall comfort.
Poorly insulated windows or windows that are not well maintained will cause you to have high bills for cooling. Moisture may accumulate on and around the glass, contributing to wall warping, peeling paint, and growth of molds.
When you get an inspection on a home you’re looking to purchase, be sure the inspector pays special attention to the condition and function of the windows.
Check the Ductwork
Basements are rare in many warmer climates, which means that many homes have been constructed with air conditioning units and ductwork running into crawl spaces or up to the attic.
While this seems like a great idea, these spaces are often not completely insulated like the rest of the house, meaning that high temperatures make the devices work harder and more inefficient. Breakdowns are becoming more common, and you will have to remove the whole machine more often than you should.
Alternatively, search to gather all the ductwork within the home’s air-conditioned areas, whether this means that the condensing coils are placed in the home’s main area or that the attic or crawl space is cooled.
Well-Ventilated
Good air quality is important to get the cooler air to the living spaces, helping to lower the refrigeration bills.
Because of this, if you purchase in a warmer climate, look for open floor plans. The wider spaces and lack of walls allow air to flow more easily, keeping your room cool with less difficulty.
If you have your heart set on a more divided floor plan, make sure there is plenty of ventilation to allow air to flow between rooms without taxing your air conditioner.
Look for Light Colors
Light and heat consume dark colors. If the home you choose has a dark-colored roof or siding, in the sunlight it is more likely to be naturally hotter and therefore more expensive to cool.
Look for light blue, brown, or yellow siding and roofing wherever possible when buying in a warmer climate like San Antonio. This will help you keep your energy efficiency higher and reduce the amount you spend on cooling your house.
Not only will a lighter-colored home save you money on the real energy you need to run your air conditioner, it also reduces the number of times you need repairs and replacements, saving you money over the years.
