Things
You Should Know When Buying A Home
GET
PRE-APPROVED FIRST!
If you're looking to buy a home, your buying power will increase if you know
what you can afford. In situations where more than one person is making an offer
on a home, this is very valuable: a seller may take a lower offer on their
property if the lower offer is from a buyer who is ALREADY approved. Getting
pre-approved also helps you look in the correct price range, so you don't fall
in love with a home you can't quite afford. Get Pre-Approved Now*
SHOP
AROUND AND DO RESEARCH.
Have your real estate agent show you at least 5 - 10 properties before you make
any decisions. You want to get a good overall feeling for prices in the area
you're looking. You don't want to take the first house you find that looks good;
a good purchase ALWAYS includes research.
GET
A HOME INSPECTION REPORT.
A Home Inspection report, done by a qualified professional can ease your mind
about the condition of the home. They can tell you if the home is a good buy at
the price you are thinking of paying.
DON'T
LET OUTSIDE APPEARANCES FOOL YOU.
Landscaping or beautiful decorations can make a home very appealing, while poor
improvements or sparse landscaping can make a home look unappealing. Imagine the
home completely empty, and visualize what you would do with the home to make it
right for you. If you would have to do too much work, and don't have a lot of
spare money left over, then you won't feel like you made a good purchase. But if
the home is selling for less than similar properties because the improvements
are minimal, you may find personalizing your new home a rewarding experience.
USE EXPERIENCED
PROFESSIONALS.
Choose them wisely, but use industry professionals. Interview at
least three candidates for the job, like you were an employer hiring someone.
Find out how long they have been in their field, and ask for references. As to
the price you pay to use realtors, it is standard in the industry to use
realtors, so if you are looking for homes alone, the commission is already built
into a sellers price.
DO
A COMPLETE CHECK OF THE HOME YOURSELF.
Before you finalize the deal, do a complete walk through of the place yourself.
Open all of the doors, windows, look in every cupboard, try the appliances or
devices that are included with the property. You may find some items that need
repairs that you can have the seller pay for by adjusting the price of the home.
Here is a checklist to use.
GET
EVERYTHING IN WRITING.
Make sure your real estate agent writes down EVERYTHING in the sales contract.
Make sure that if you want something included with the home, that it is in that
sales contract. Don't accept verbal promises from other agents or sellers. This
tip will save you a great deal of trouble. There are so many different factors
involved in buying a home. What's most important is that you find what makes you
happy.
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