Home buying starts with you.
Being a home buyer requires quite a lot, particularly if you’re a first time home buyer. Money, patience, phone calls, showings…the list is rather long. The job of a REALTOR® is to keep it all flowing smoothly and help our clients through the home buying process, but there are some things that we’ve learned by watching our clients – things you can do to make yourself a great home buyer. Although some of them may seem a little basic, they’re often forgotten and in the whirl of excitement that is home buying they can be completely overlooked. There are times when it’s best to step back and think about the small things. So here they are: 10 Ways to be a Great Home Buyer.
-
Know how to laugh, it relieves stress. – You’d be surprised what a little brevity can do in a stressful situation.
-
Be interested in the process. Learn. – Chances are you’ll buy more than one house in your lifetime. The more you learn in the process the better. There’s a lot going on, so don’t feel overwhelmed, but take the time to understand the process and you’ll enjoy it much more.
-
Take notes, keep them in a folder. – After you’ve visited a few homes they have a tendency to blur together. The more organized you are about your home search, the easier it is to make a decision when you’re ready.
-
When a underwriter asks for something, have it ready (being a mind reader helps). – During the loan process, the underwriter inevitably will ask for paperwork…don’t ask why, just get it to them. Make their job easy and your loan process will run smoothly. Frustrate them and things can get very slow.
-
Ask questions. Ask more. – Unless your favorite question is “Why on earth did I hire you?,” most REALTORS® love to answer questions. It’s in our nature to want to help buyers understand the home buying process. If your agent is annoyed by questions, you should hire a new one. Same goes for lenders.
-
Save everything after you buy your house – surveys, floor plans, inspection reports, etc. – You never know when you’re going to need them.
-
Be patient. – There are quiet times in the process where it seems as if nothing is happening. Take a deep breath. Those quiet times often means everything is going smoothly.
-
Don’t let an offer consume you. – This is easier than it sounds. If a seller turns down your offer or someone else gets the house, it can feel devastating. We’ll find a better one, it’s a strange law of nature, but it happens every time.
-
Talk to your REALTOR®. Let them know how you’re feeling. – Your agent should be asking questions and learning about you, but there are times when our mind-reading skills are just not up to par. Tell us what’s going on, the more we know, the better we can help you.
-
Dream big, spend small. – Just because a lender approves you for the biggest house on the block, doesn’t mean you want to spend every nickel they’re willing to lend you. Know your limitations and spend within your comfort zone.
image courtesy of billsoPHOTO
