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Back to main Buying Real Estate Section
Make specific choices regarding the features you want in your new home. Do you want extra land to build on to later? Do you want a modern kitchen? How about extra bedrooms for a growing family? These decisions must be made, but there also has to be flexibility. Be willing to compromise on the less important features to make a good deal.
It is very easy to dismiss a home because of décor you find disagreeable, and even a dirty home can cause many buyers to ignore wonderful homes that merely need a good cleaning. Try to picture the home as you would decorate it, and focus on the larger issues. Any home you buy will need your own touch to make it a home, regardless of the present décor.
Get pre-approved for a mortgage
This not only lets the sellers know that you are serious about pursuing a home, but it also clearly establishes your capability as a home buyer. An informed buyer is always a better buyer, and knowing your limitations can help you avoid difficulties in the home buying process. Pre-approval will also aide in smoothing out the buying process.
Home buying is one of the largest investments you can make, and ensuring your safety and satisfaction are part of our duties at New Choice Realty, but there are limits to what we can do. We cannot tell you if the radon levels are too high, or if there are termites, or if the property line has been properly drawn. But there are relatively inexpensive services with which you can protect yourself from future loss. We suggest that, once you have a home under contract, you do the following:
- Have a radon test performed by a licensed professional. We know several
and would be glad to refer you to a qualified technician.
- Have a termite inspection done. While this may not be as prevalent
a problem as in other areas, the losses caused by termites can be devastating,
and easily avoided.
- Have a home inspection done, again, by a licensed professional. These
individuals are trained to spot potential problems that can easily escape
the notice of others. Again, educate yourself as a buyer.
- Have an appraisal done. This not only assures you that the amount
you are paying for your home is correct, but also gives you an idea
of the future value of your home.
- Get insurance. Not only Homeowners, but also Title insurance offer
greater protection to buyers and can alleviate future losses. Considering
the size of your investment, this is a very important consideration
for the future.
- Finally, have a survey done of the property. So many future problems can be avoided through this simple process. You can be assured of the exact investment you are making and clear up any disputes regarding property boundaries before they arise.
All of these activities are incredibly inexpensive when compared to the potential losses they help you to avoid.
As a buyer, you need to be acutely aware that the current owners of the property you are interested in have a great deal of personal investment in that same property. Try to understand what it would be like to have someone make an offer on your home that you knew was extremely low. How would you feel? Often, sellers feel insulted by extremely low offers, and this can lead to unnecessary difficulties in making the deal, and have even led to contracts being pulled. So we suggest that you make reasonable offers to sellers and use bargaining, not “low-balling,” to make the best deal for everyone involved.
We know that home buying can be extremely stressful, but
by following the advice of qualified professionals, present and future problems
can be avoided. But you, as a buyer, also play a key role in minimizing
your own stress. Prepare yourself by setting priorities, pre-qualifying
for a mortgage, and knowing that you can make any property into your home.
And protect yourself with insurance, inspections, and understanding of the
seller. These relatively simple activities can greatly reduce the stress
of home buying, and when combined with the skills of the professionals at
New Choice Realty, LLC, can make yours a memorable but easy home buying
experience.