When you’re on the hunt for a new home with wish list in hand and real estate agent at your side, it’s easy to get tunnel vision. Once you find that perfect 3 bed, 2 bath with crown moulding and a big backyard you’ve been desperately searching for, that’s it’s! Right?
Not quite. It’s important to keep your senses sharp and mind focused on the bigger picture during your house hunt. There are several things that buyers tend to forget once they actually go out searching for homes. Make sure you don’t by sticking to these seven hunting tips.
1. Know what you want and what you need.
Better yet, know the balance between the two. Always look for convenience, but all the while you should look for necessity as well. About 40% of people who move sacrifice one for the other and don’t end up very happy.
2. Always inspect the property.
Never just take your agent’s word for how good the place is – go and see for yourself. Inspect for any damages that might need fixing or ones that should be fixed if the owner wants to sell. This goes for a visual inspection and a professional inspection once you decide to make an offer.
3. Ask about the inventory.
Whatever the state of the house is, by the time you get the keys to the place, the owner might take away anything from it. You need to be sure what you are buying both externally and internally so that you know how to refurbish the place once you settle on moving house.
4. Canvas the neighborhood.
Don’t just look at the house. Look around the house as well. See where you are moving, what the lifestyle of that place is and whether you will be able to fit in. Almost every neighborhood in the world has that one person nobody can stand, make sure that you can deal with that person before you settle in.
5. Comparison lists are optional, but make one.
You should see whether your own house or the one you want to buy are better suited for you, and a list of pros and cons for both will be a step towards the right decision.
Speaking of pro and con list, make one just for the new house and one for the area as well. Pros and cons are always to be weighed so you can see whether there is balance or the scales are tipped in a (un)favourable direction.
6. Always see how you can lower the price of the house.
Lowering the price doesn’t always mean negotiating the listing price. Sometimes it means asking for closing credits or a better closing date or including the brand new washer and drying in the home sale. What’s most important is never settle without negotiating, especially if you see something wrong with the house. Read up on professional inspection to help you prepare for the back and forth ahead of you.
7. Avoid houses with artificially inflated prices.
This happens often nowadays. People add decorations and appliances and staged furniture just to make the house look more expensive despite half the things offered inside you don’t need. If the owner is not willing to get rid of them and lower the price, you should keep the wallet shut.
With this the house hunting should go much better, and you should be able to find the place that will be perfect for you. Then you will be able to be at peace because when the time for relocation comes, you will know that you made the right move.
This guest post is written by Ella Andrews, an avid blogger by hobby, and copywriter by profession. Informational credit to: removalsmanandvan.org.uk
