The Case of the Missing Floor Plan
Not long ago, I wrote about the infamous square feet versus square meter problem. But once that problem is solved, the next one that foreign buyers often encounter is that of the missing floor plan. In America, they often don’t exist. When I was looking for a condo in Boston, it always seemed that the best places were floor plan-deprived. So here’s fair warning: It’s often up to the buyer to either remember the layout, or draw up a plan on his or her own. Sure, pictures are pretty to look at, but they often don’t provide all the information a buyer needs to make an informed decision. A few tips on dealing with a missing floor plan:
—Ask the seller’s realtor for a floor plan. If more people demand printed floor plans up front, more realtors will begin providing them right off the bat. (And since there are professional services that will draw up a floor plan, realtors and homeowners don’t have many excuses.)
—Bring along a tape measure, paper and pencil when househunting. It may be up to YOU to draw up a rough floor plan on the spot. You might also take along your gear when visiting open houses.
— When drawing up a quick-sketch floor plan, don’t forget important details. In addition to room dimensions you’ll want to know where windows are located, where closets are located, and how big they are, whether doors open in or out, and the location of electrical outlets.
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