For First Time Buyers and Buying Your First Home
Read the helpful information below to acknowledge easy ways for Buyers to move.
Avoid the 10 Most Common, Painful, Frustrating Mistakes First-Time Home Buyers Make
Buying a residence can be a hair raising experience. You will experience a roller coaster of emotions while finding the right place, securing the loan and finally moving in. For most of us, the first time home purchase is the largest investment we ve ever considered. The emotions of purchasing something so expensive and personal can often cloud our business judgment.
Most home purchasers do little or no research before they invest their nest egg. Doesn t it make sense to become as completely informed as possible before you buy your first home? This special report is designed to help you avoid 10 common and crucial mistakes. The right real estate professional can help you make good sound business decisions based on your personal situation.
1) Inspect, Inspect and Inspect - Go over the inspection report with a fine tooth comb. Make sure the report was done by a professional organization. For condo purchases go over the CC&R s, By-Laws, and Association Fees. Don t take anything for granted... inspect everything!
2) Imagine the Property Vacant - Your furnishings and decorations will be the ones filling this new residence. Don t be swayed by beautiful furniture; it leaves with the owner.
3) Income + Lifestyle = Mortgage Payment - Sit down with your professional real estate agent and honestly discuss your income level and living expenses. Take into account future considerations, children, add-ons, amenities, and fix-ups. Your dream home is certainly worth a sacrifice but don t mortgage your entire future.
4) View Several Homes - See at least 7-10 properties. Don t move too slow but don t move on the first property you see. With your agent s help you should be able to view enough properties to get a good overall perspective of the home market. When you find the right property all the leg work will be worth it.
5) Utilize Your Team - By aligning yourself with the right real estate professional you will have an entire team at your disposal. Utilize your lender, title rep and agent. Each of them should work hand in hand for your benefit. Explore all the options before you sign.
6) Be Columbo - Check out all costs and expenses before you sign. Utilities, taxes, insurance, maintenance and home owner dues if applicable. Make sure all utilities (gas, electricity, and water) are on during tyour walk-throughso you can inspect everything in working order. Ask lots of questions and be very detail conscious.
7) Do a Final Walk-Through - Visit the property after all furnishings have been moved out to be sure there are no surprises. Be absolutely positive the property was left exactly as you had agreed upon in the contract. Things that could have been spotted in a final walk-through are often unintentionally overlooked.
8) Plan For Flexibility - Closing dates are not written in stone. Allow for contingencies and have a back-up plan. If you or the sellers need a little more time to conclude the final arrangements, don t let these delays upset or frustrate you. These types of circumstances are not uncommon in a real estate transaction.
9) If It s Not In Writing, It Doesn't Exist - All promises and discussions should be in writing. Don t make any assumptions or believe any assurances. Even the best intentions can be misinterpreted. Have your professional keep an ongoing log in writing of all discussions and get the seller's written approval on all agreements.
10) Loyalty Breeds Loyalty - Be open, honest and up front with your team. Hard feelings and disloyalty will cause head aches, delays or may even keep you from getting into the home you worked so hard to locate. Take the time to select the right team in the beginning and your first home purchase will be a pleasing and memorable experience.
Tips
The tips provided to you below are commonly made mistakes made by both the seller and the buyer.
Selling Tips
- Everything from floors to windows must be spotless. Remember to clean the oven and other major appliances. Skylights should be crystal-clear, too. Do not forget to make bathrooms shine!
- Kill the offensive odors. They're the first thing buyers notice, and often a permanent turnoff.
- Eliminate Clutter
- Put away small kitchen appliances and other items that are sitting on countertops and tables.
- Remove photographs from table-tops.
- Organize the closets.
- If there's not a reason to leave something sitting around--remove it!
- Outside Tasks
- Buyers nearly always comment if gutters are full of leaves and it makes them question other maintenance issues.
- Store or organize items that make the yard look messy.
- Make your front entry inviting. Decorate it, paint the door or buy a new door. It's the first look
Buying Tips
- If you have to resell soon, don't buy an unusual home.
Even if the quality of a school district doesn't matter to you now, remember it might someday to another buyer.
Expect lower maintenance costs with a brand-new home.
- Never tell a sellers broker how much you'll raise your offer for a particular house.
When interest rates are low opt for a fixed mortgage.
Pay attention to floor plans. Changing layouts of rooms later, can be costly.
- You can deduct on that years tax return points paid by either party on the purchase of your own residence.
- If the present owner has a title insurance policy less than 3 years old, you could have substantial savings by buying a reissue of that policy rather than a completely new one.
- Pay attention to the original listing date of the homes you inspect; Sellers tend to be more flexible in the price the longer the home is on the market.
- A house that's sited to take advantage of the sun, the wind and the typography costs less to heat and cool and can save thousands of dollars over the years in utility bills.
- Buying a house whose style is uniquely individual will probably minimize rather than maximize its resale value because the house will appeal to a somewhat more limited number of potential buyers.
- If you think you may need more space in the near future, be sure the house and lot will allow for expansion.
- Redoing a kitchen is likely to be expensive. So be sure of what you need and want before you buy.
- Don't buy a house with foundation problems. Although most foundation problems can be corrected, repair work is usually expensive.
- Before you buy a house that may have a wet basement problem,get a good unbiased diagnosis from a professional with moisture control experience. The solution could be costly.
- A roof that complements the style of a home and is carefully maintained adds to the home's visual appeal and its resale value.
- A light-colored roof reflects heat and is best in areas where air-conditioning is the greater energy user. In colder weather climates, a dark roof is preferable because it absorbs more heat. In temperate climates, a middle-range shade is best.
- Plant vibrant trees, shrubs and vines on south and west sides of the home to provide shade in the summer and sunshine in the winter. Remember trees enhance the beauty and value of a lot and house.