It’s home buying season! That means there is an influx of buyers looking to find their perfect home. Typically when searching for a home, people’s areas of focus are price, square footage, number of bedrooms/bathrooms and location. But because we buy with our hearts instead of our heads (as I raise my guilty hand), we often end up running into issues or regrets once the dust settles and the newness wears off. Now I’m not a real estate expert, but I have purchased, sold and served as a landlord. Each of those transactions taught me a different lesson about the home buying process. The inspiration for this post are my brothers, so I’m going to share the same sisterly advice that I’ve shared with them.
1. Location. Location. Location.
When they say this is the number #1 rule in real estate, they ain’t never lied. My advice here is to stick to your parameters on where you want to live. In some instances it’s good to be little flexible, but if you truly want to live in the city (because of convenience to work and access amenities), don’t go snooping around the suburbs because it is cheaper. You will regret in the end.
2. Don’t settle, wait.
This may be the hardest advice to follow, but finding a home can take months. Remember this is likely the largest purchase of your life, so don’t be in a rush to find something quickly. Patience will allow you to have the upper hand and you will be less likely to settle. My advice here is to wait until you find a home that you absolutely love.
3. Never buy with your eyes.
Everyone gets caught up in the décor of the model or staged home. The intent here is to sell the space so that you can envision living there. But truly ask yourself if your house will look like the model home? Am I buying off emotion? My advice here is to see the home empty, and have a thorough inspection before buying so that you can truly see a space for what is it. Then you can hire Outfitting Spaces to decorate it for you (shameless plug).
4. Budget for new furniture and décor.
I don’t know anyone who hasn’t purchased new furniture when buying a new home. It’s a sad sight to see someone with a new house with little to no furnishings because they forgot to carve out funds to outfit their new space. My advice here is to save for furniture as you would a down payment and identify what areas you want to furnish upfront. Don’t incur additional debt trying to furnish the entire house, instead save up for those areas that will need immediate attention.
5. The land is also the house.
Remember, the land is just as important as the house. Make sure there aren’t drainage issues, standing water, dying trees or pest issues with the land. My advice is to visit the property when it rains, asked questions of the builder/previous homeowner and be just as inquisitive about the land as you would the house. They are a package deal and most insurance companies won’t cover land damage unless it directly impacts the structure of the home.
I hope this provides you with some helpful things to consider as you look to find your perfect home. Good luck!
Author: Nicky Scott
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