Buying a home is the biggest purchase of your life. You want to make the best informed decision
you can and that’s where I can help! I
have compiled a list of 8 important things to consider when you are out looking
at homes to buy. This list is a little
different because these things are usually over looked when buyers find a home
that they like, but can have a huge impact down the line.
1.
Think long term – You want to find a
home that fits your current needs, but your future (5-10 years) needs are just
as important. Keep these in mind.
2.
Think
resale – According to HomeInsight.com, the typical homeowner moves every
5-7 years. Make sure when you are
looking for your home that you are thinking about resale. Things like updates, home layout, surrounding
areas, and neighborhood are important factors in resale.
3.
Look at
all the expenses – Make sure you take into consideration all of the
expenses that you would have if you lived in the home. Things like a neighborhood HOA or a pool in
the back yard can change the look of the expenses. You don’t want any surprises, so the best bet
is to make a list of all of the possible expenses for the home.
4.
Look
Beyond Staging – Sometimes homes are staged so well you just fall in love
with it. That’s not a bad thing, but
it’s important to realize “that stuff” won’t be there when you move in. Look at the bones of the house and see your décor, furniture and family
in it.
5.
Ask for
the HOA Info – If the neighborhood does have an HOA, you want to ask for
the HOA Rules and Regulations before you put in an offer. You want to make sure that your lifestyle and
the HOA Rules will be a good fit. For
example, if you have kids and have 5 cars but the HOA doesn’t allow for cars to
be parked in the driveways overnight, then that neighborhood might not be a
good fit for your family at this time.
6.
Check
into the neighborhood and demographics – Location, Location, Location. If you’re not familiar with the area, do some
research. Search neighborhood
information, area crime reports, schools, the local amenities. Drive the neighborhood at different times of
the day. This can show you how busy the
neighborhood is, and the interaction of the people that live there. All of these are very important things to
help with the decision making process.
7.
Test
commute – You are going to be doing this commute every day. Test the commute and make sure that it will
work for you. For example, the house is
10 miles further away from work, but the traffic in that area is so bad, it
takes an extra 20 minutes. Make sure you
are informed.
8.
Get a
Professional to help – Realtors have the education and experience. The market is always changing, and Realtors
will be able to navigate you through it all.
From the start, helping with neighborhood knowledge, market conditions,
pricing the offer, negotiations, and lots of paperwork.
Make a list of items to check out, ask your Realtor for help
and be as informed as you possibly can before buying a home.
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