If you wish to purchase a new home, you will want to make sure that all the important details are in order before closing the deal. By preparing to buy a home the right way, you can make smarter decisions when it comes to your purchase and choose a home that suits your wants and needs. Here are 10 things that you should always do before buying a house.
1. Research the Neighbourhood
In addition to living in the house itself, you will want to live in a neighbourhood that is both safe and ideal for your lifestyle. You should research the crime statistics, livability scores and average home prices of each neighbourhood where you are considering buying a home to make sure that you choose the right setting. If you have children, it will also be to your advantage to research the local schools.
2. Secure Financing
As eager as you likely are to purchase a new home, you still need to make sure that you will have enough money to pay for the home outright or by making payments over the long term. Securing a home loan before closing the deal on the home sale will be especially important if you plan to make payments over a period of several years.
3. Resolve Any Credit Issues
If you plan to apply for a home loan, you will want your credit to be as good as possible so that you will have a better chance of getting the financing that you need for the loan. Paying off all your debts as much as possible before you start looking for a home can put you in a better position to purchase. You can also look over your credit report to identify any fraudulent activities that may be harming your credit rating.
4. Specify Exactly What You Want
Searching for a home isn’t the time to be shy about what you want, and you should specify your requests to your real estate agent so that you can be shown homes on the market that meet your criteria. An agent who is able to locate homes for sale that are within a Zeb Realty service area can show you homes that meet your space requirements and have additional features, such as patios, swimming pools and recreation rooms, that can enhance your living.
5. Make a List of What You Don’t Want
In addition to thinking about what you want, you should be specific about what you don’t want in a home so that your real estate agent will know to avoid showing you certain properties. If you have young children, you may want to avoid a home that is multistoried or has a lot of sharp edges that could harm your children. You may also want to avoid seeing homes that don’t have spacious yards or are of a certain architectural style.
6. Research the Market
Researching the housing markets in specific areas can save you a lot of time and frustration when looking for a new home. Before you even hire an agent, you can go online to read about the average listing and selling prices in certain neighbourhoods so that you will know which ones to explore more and which ones to avoid.
7. Be Willing to Compromise
You may not always get exactly what you want when purchasing a new home, and showing a willingness to compromise can help you find a suitable home easier. You may need to forgo purchasing a house that has a swimming pool or isn’t located so close to the beach to find a home that will suit you and anyone else who plans to live with you. Even a home that you don’t absolutely love in the beginning could turn out to be a gem if you are willing to be open-minded.
8. Consider All Costs
In addition to the final purchase price of the house itself, you should consider other costs that could factor into your decision to buy. Home insurance, homeowner association fees and property taxes are other expenses that you will likely need to pay, and learning how much these fees will cost in advance can help you budget better.
9. Check the Plumbing
In every house that you tour, you will want to check the plumbing to make sure there are no hidden problems. One of the best ways to do this is to flush the toilets inside a home to see if they flush strongly, as a weak flush could indicate a serious plumbing problem. You can also look over the pipes to ensure that no visible cracks or water leaks are present.
10. Schedule a Home Inspection
Any property that you are thinking of buying should be looked over by a professional home inspector. In addition to performing more thorough inspections of plumbing systems, these professionals can look for problems in attics, crawlspaces and other areas that often go unseen by homebuyers. You can then review the inspector’s report to determine if purchasing that particular home will be the right decision.
Doing the prep work before buying a home can save you a lot of time. Hiring a real estate agent who is knowledgeable of the area where you wish to purchase a home will also be a wise decision.
By: Eric Reyes
About the Author
Eric Reyes is a passionate thought leader having been featured in 50 distinguished online and offline platforms. His passion and knowledge in Finance and Business made him a sought after contributor providing valuable insights to his readers. You can find him reading a book and discussing current events in his spare time.
I am Bhagwati Suthar, Founder of Jobiba & TezLife.com. I am a Blogger, Affiliate Marketer and a Digital Marketer from Udaipur, India. At JobibaBlog, We share articles about Blogging, Marketing & Advertising, Business and Tech Tips.
