Hunting for a new house is a very emotional process. You may fall prey to several common home buyer mistakes if you allow those emotions to get the best out of you. Considering that homeownership has many much-reaching implications, keeping your emotions in check and making the most rational decision is necessary.
Your goal is to end up with a home that you love at a price that you can buy but, unfortunately, many people are doing things that prevent them from achieving it. Here are some of the house-hunting errors that people make.
You are not picky
On the other hand, not being open-minded enough is being so open-minded that you regret wasting your time, and your realtor’s on properties do not meet your demands. It’s undoubtedly common and “a requirement” that when you’re hunting a home, you make some compromises. However, don’t lose sight of the things you know you want in your home to make the house feel good for you.
Each customer has its own set of dealmakers and deal-breaker. If it’s essential to have a yard for your kids to run around in, then don’t look at homes that don’t have yards. If you want four bedrooms, there is no need to search out homes that have three bedrooms. Find out exactly what your will-haves are early, so you don’t end up getting something else because it’s attractive.
Not getting a mortgage approved beforehand
You are setting yourself up for disappointment; when hunting for a new house before you know how much you’ll be able to borrow. You should obtain a pre-approval mortgage before you head to any open house, so you know how much your lender will clearly let you borrow. Without it, you risk falling in love with a home that you cannot buy.
The first thing you should do is to get pre-approved, and then you find the home of your dreams. This way, you are going to make a financial decision rather than an emotional one.
You forget to set your own budget
While a pre-approval is a vital tool to have, the factors in setting your house-hunting budget should not be the only detail. Keep in mind that the pre-approval indicates the maximum amount you’ll receive in a loan. However, you don’t have to spend that much, and you should probably not. You have to make sure that your mortgage payment is handled in addition to your other recurring monthly costs.
Tips: Make your own budget and maintain it. Start by using a mortgage calculator to estimate what a variety of loan amounts your monthly payment might be like.
Going without an estate agent
Without a real estate agent, it can be tempting to house hunt. In your mind, you must be thinking that “Since the listings are online, why don’t I save the commission.” But doing it alone can mean missing your dream property, and you may end up spending more on it as well.
There are a couple of reasons why a smart move as a home buyer is to have a realtor at your side. For example, an accomplished realtor on your local market will be the right expert. He or she will probably have some insight to help you narrow in on your best options. Realtors often have access to a broader range of available listings then what you will find online, including early-bird knowledge about high-demand homes that are up for sale. The seller usually pays the buyer’s agent, meaning there’s really no downside to using an agent to search for you.
Focusing on cosmetic problems
In less attractive homes, picky buyers can roll their eyes, which can cause them to overlook a diamond in the rough. Some so-called problems you should ignore when buying a house, according to home and lifestyle Apartment Therapy, includes a hideous paint color whether on the outside or inside of the house, dated furniture or style except if you buy the furnished home, you will decorate it to your own satisfaction, and some easily altered architectural details, such as a lack of crown moldings.
While minor cosmetic problems should not immediately cause you to say no to a house, be careful if there are also signs of neglect paired with superficial issues, like unusual odors or mold from a lawn that has not been cared for. Besides, odors or mold are sometimes caused by rodents and insects. Mice urines and feces leave bad smells around the house; so if you notice such, quickly draw the attention of your agent, especially if you love the house. A professional pest control technician will help you get rid of pests in no time.
You let people get in your head
The property you are buying is your personal choice. If no one else is going to pay for it expect you or live inside it, then you shouldn’t give too many ears to their points of view.
No one knows better than you do what you want in a home. When you find yourself being spoken of something you really liked or pressured into prioritizing a home style that isn’t really not important to you, then chances are you’re giving too much credibility to outside “objective” views.
