When viewing a house, many people concentrate on aspects such as room sizes and interior features, and entirely forget to check the external areas. Ideally, you should view the inside and outside of a house to fully gage its suitability. Here are a few pointers to use when assessing the exterior of a house.

1. What is the street like? You may absolutely love the house you are viewing, but take a look at neighbouring properties. After all, if you are surrounded by run down, unkempt properties, this will hardly be an ideal situation, and could affect you if you decide to sell the house in the future.

1. Parking – if you drive, this is an especially important aspect to consider, is there a garage attached to the house, or sufficient space to park on the drive? Do you need more than one parking space? Is the house on a main road, and if so, what are the rules about parking?

1. Roofs and guttering – It’s amazing, but many people don’t notice the roof when they are viewing a house. Take a good look – does the roof look in decent condition? are there any slates or tiles missing? Is the guttering in good condition, or filled with weeds and overflowing? Also check for tell tale signs of mould on the exterior walls i.e. streaks running down the walls, this could suggest leaks or poor maintenance. Also check flat roofs (on extensions etc), are they showing signs of wear and tear?

1. Walls – Have a good look at the exterior walls. What state is the brickwork or rendering in? is the paintwork OK? Check for any cracks – they can be a sign of subsidence, and try to spot any areas of neglect. Check the same points for extensions or conservatories.

1. Windows – Check to see if the house is double glazed, and that the window seals are in good condition. If made of timber – check that the wood is free from woodworm, mould or decay. Security-wise, do the windows have locks?

1. Garden – Walk around the garden, and ask yourself, how big is it? Which direction does it face, which features will be included in the house sale? Is it what you’re looking for maintenance wise?

1. Shared areas – This is particularly applicable if you are viewing a shared house or flat/apartment. Find out which areas are shared with the neighbours e.g. the garden, walk ways and parking. Also check the boundaries between properties – this can be a major source of conflict between neighbours.

For some people, owning a home is an integral part of achieving the American Dream. But for others, and perhaps a growing number of people, home ownership is not in the cards. And oftentimes, that is a calculated choice people make. The reality today is that some people simply prefer to rent a home instead of own one. Of course, there are upsides to both renting and owning.

Owning a home: Pros

The home is yours. Want to change the paint color? Go ahead. Refinish the floors? You can do that, too. Build equity as you make monthly mortgage payments? Check. People who own their condo, loft or single-family home have flexibility to make the changes they want, provided they are not outside the bounds of city ordinances (in the case of single-family homes) or association co-op rules (in the case of condos and lofts).

And in some markets, including Minneapolis, owning a home actually makes more economic sense. According to a recent Wall Street Journal survey (based on data from Zillow, Inc.), 12 of 27 metro areas favor owning a home rather than renting one. In Minneapolis, for example, the average monthly mortgage payment for homeowners is $776, compared to the average monthly rent payment of $953.

Homeowners also enjoy a sense of security. They are not subject to landlords who do not want to extend a lease, or who are not prompt in dealing with issues that arise. Additionally, homeowners essentially invest in themselves each time they make a mortgage payment or complete a home-improvement project.

Renting a home: Pros

You are not the owner. That means your landlord, not you, likely is responsible for major repairs. Furnace goes out? Call the landlord. Ditto if, for example, the roof develops a leak. For that reason, people who rent can take comfort in knowing exactly how much of their money goes into their home each month or year.

Renters also enjoy flexibility. Since leases generally last for fixed periods of time, renters can live in one spot for a year or two, and then try somewhere else. Or maybe you have a job that keeps you on the move. In that case, renting is a good choice because you are not on the hook for selling a home before you can move.

Renting also tends to be less labor-intensive than owning. Renters often can decorate a home to line up with their personal tastes, but they generally do not need to worry about things like landscaping, mowing the grass in the summer, or removing snow in the winter. As a result, renters have more time for the activities they enjoy.