How many times have you said; “I wish I would’ve known…” or “…if I only knew” or “…if only someone had told me,” and the list goes on and on.
This is all too true especially when making large, financial purchases.
So, we’re uncovering many important things to think about in real estate. We all know that the home buying process is a bit of a thrilling, stressful, fun, and exhausting ride.
And, with a lot of patience, you’ll be making one of the more important decisions in your life.
Recent surveys say the average homeowner lives in their home for 13 years.
That’s a chunk of time to stay in one place. Just think of all the things that have changed in the last 13 years!
Before you jump headfirst or get too far in the process, we want you to love this experience when you look back on it.
Let’s get into these 5 home buying confessions from The Gresham Group:
You’ll be spending more time with your real estate agent than anyone else. Find a realtor that feels like a friend. Someone you can trust and be 100% honest with, you’re able to speak freely. With your must-haves top of mind, they will begin to look at each property through your eyes and weed out any homes that don’t fit your needs. In the buying process specifically, your agent is your advocate and will negotiate on your behalf, this is why a transparent relationship is key.
Clean up your credit and never miss a payment. You can easily set calendar reminders or alerts to notify you in-advance. Don’t open a ton of credit cards or use them like cash. Paying more than the minimum & in full are your best bet to boost your credit score.
Good home inspectors reveal issues! Inspections are a major part of the buying process, but it is an inspector’s job to reveal everything they find! Keep in mind, that list may be lengthy. As a homeowner, you’ll want to ensure routine maintenance schedules are in-place and fix certain things that could lead to larger issues, such as the roof, heating and air conditioning, or appliances.
Buying a home is a rigorous process. You’ll be driving around and touring a lot of homes that may or may not be considered. It’s not just 3 homes. If you think it is, you’ve probably been watching too much HGTV. You’re not only committing to buying a property, but you’ll want to make sure it fits with your lifestyle. Check out common areas, neighborhoods, schools, amenities, etc. Remember, you’ll want to consider those 13+ years while you’re deciding.
It can be tempting, but you’ll want to stick to a budget. Be realistic with your realtor throughout your search and set financial boundaries. Make sure to ask for utility averages, HOA fees, taxes, and any other miscellaneous fees associated with the home, so you can work that into your budget.
Having a place to call home is absolutely wonderful. But, learning and knowing all the hard facts is crucial to both your time and financial investments. Learn from these confessions so you can properly plan to buy a home.
