There’s no doubt about it: buying a home is an overwhelming ordeal. It can be easy to fall into option paralysis when confronted with so many concerns, choices, and decisions – not to mention all the paperwork! That’s why we’ve put together a few tips to help home buyers through the process and be confident when “the one” finally presents itself!
Before You Start:
Make a non-negotiable list
This will consist of your “must-haves.” Take into consideration commute time, school district, yard size, garage size, layout, bathrooms, neighborhood, etc. Not only will this list give you a better understanding of what you are looking for, but it is also going to give your realtor guidelines to search within.
Find your realtor
Once you have a complete list, it is time to find your realtor. This is an important step! Your realtor has the power to make or break your home-buying or home-selling experience. Here are a few things that I recommend looking for, and which our service embodies to the fullest:
- Chemistry: You are inevitably going to be seeing a lot of this person, you want to be able to get along with them.
- Experience: Creating connections and understanding the market take’s time. Make sure you find someone who has already made a presence within the market.
- Local Expertise: A good real estate agent in New York is not going to be a good real estate agent in Boise. You want an agent who is extremely familiar with the area so that they can best advise you based on local trends and direct you towards neighborhoods that will best suit your needs.
- Values: Once you have signed up with an agent to represent you, he or she becomes your face. They are the ones who are going to represent you, so you want to make sure that their values are honest and trustworthy.
- Priority: Find an agent that is going to be available when you need them to be. The market can change in a second, so you want to be confident that your realtor has the time to act fast.
During The Hunt:
Don’t Waste Your Time
Not every house is going to fit your needs. Trust in your gut, and trust in your realtor, that you are looking at the right houses for your needs. If you cannot see yourself living in a home, do not waste time or money considering it.
Communicate. Communicate. Communicate.
Make sure that you establish a strong line of communication with your realtor! You should feel comfortable asking questions, making suggestions, and giving feedback. Buying a home is a team effort, and the best way to ensure a pleasant and stress-free experience is to communicate effectively.
After The Hunt:
You found it… you finally found your home! Now it is time to:
- Communicate with your realtor about putting in an offer
- Ask your realtor for inspector, mortgage broker, and insurance agent referrals
- Negotiate repairs, reimbursements, discounts, etc.
- Finalize your loan and insurance
- Move-in and make it your home!