House-Hunting Checklist

• Flood zone & flood history — Check the FEMA map zone AND ask if the home has ever flooded. This is Louisiana rule #1.
• Roof age — Ask directly. Roof age drives your insurance quote here more than almost anything.
• AC system age & service history — A Louisiana summer with a dying AC is not a character-building experience you want.
• Signs of water intrusion — Ceiling stains, warped floors, musty smell, fresh paint in odd single patches.
• Drainage & grading — Walk the yard: does water have somewhere to go that isn’t the slab?
• Termite bond / history — Ask if there’s an active termite contract. In this climate, you want one.
• Foundation basics — Cracks in slab or brick, doors that won’t close, sloping floors.
• Water pressure & hot water — Run a faucet. Flush a toilet. Nobody will stop you.
• Electrical panel — Snap a photo of the panel for your inspector; note any obvious DIY wiring.
• Commute & noise check — Drive it at rush hour. Visit on a weekend evening. Trains, bars, and traffic reveal themselves off-schedule.
• Insurance pre-quote — For serious contenders, get an insurance quote BEFORE offering. It belongs in your payment math.
• Gut check the payment — Run the address through the payment calculator with real tax and insurance numbers.

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