What to Know Before Buying a Home

The experts at the new show Sleep On It have compiled a list of helpful facts and figures that potential buyers should know before they hit the streets to look for a home.


  • A typical midrange kitchen remodel costs nearly $44,000 and can bring a return of about 90 percent.

  • Ask about lead paint or asbestos in older homes.

  • Tree roots can crack a driveway.

  • Homes in premium condition sell for more, even in a buyer's market.

  • Talk to homeowners in the neighborhood you're interested in for more information about the area.

  • Most agents suggest that the No. 1 reason houses don't sell is price.

  • In the western US, a basement remodel may return 108 percent on resale.

  • Studies of magnetic field exposure from power lines show little evidence of an association to increased health risks.

  • Forty-three percent of homebuyers rank proximity to a school as an important factor.

  • Thirty-six percent of buyers prefer a separate shower in the master bath.