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Buying a house is a serious decision, and if you’re planning on becoming a homeowner, whether for the first time or in another city, then there are plenty of things to do in order to prepare for buying a home. Some of these are simple tasks, but some of them are a little more in-depth. No matter where you are in the process, here are the five things to do if you’re planning on buying a house.
- Hire a realtor.
While some homeowners will prefer to look for a home on their own, having a licensed realtor on your side is beneficial. After all, these professionals have access to home listings you won’t find on sites like Zillow or Redfin. This way, you can find a home that fits all your must-haves that other potential buyers won’t see, giving you an advantage. Plus, it doesn’t cost you anything to hire a realtor until you actually buy a house, so if you don’t find anything, you don’t have to worry about spending money. Ask friends and family members for realtor recommendations and choose those who you feel most comfortable with.
- Plan on a home inspection.
Once you decide on a home you want to purchase, it’s important for you to have a home inspection done on the property. These home inspections will allow you to find out if the home you want is safe for you to live in and help you decide if it’s the right one to buy. Plus, if you have a home inspection contingency in your contract, then it gives you the ability to walk away from the property without any repercussion. Your realtor will be able to point you in the direction of a trusted home inspector, but you can also ask around for recommendations or do your own research to find someone you’re comfortable with.
- Know your must-haves.
Your next home will be a big investment, so it’s important for you to know exactly what you want in a home. This means determining what your must-haves are, and then ruling out any home that doesn’t include those on your list. However, be sure you are fully aware of what exactly you need and what you could live without. For instance, if you are walking away from a home because it doesn’t have one thing on your list, you need to determine if that one thing is worth you walking away from it. Doing this will help you determine which house is the right choice if it comes down to more than one that you like.
- Understand home warranties.
Sometimes you could get a home warranty with the purchase of a home, so it’s important for you to know if this is something you have access to or not. If you do, then it’s important for you to read the warranty and understand what is included with the warranty. This will ensure you are protected in the event of certain opportunities or issues. If the home does not come with a warranty, consider this to be something you should look into. Doing the research will help you determine which home warranty is the right choice for you, or you can talk to a professional to help you.
Have your home appraised.
If you need to sell a home in order to move, it’s a good idea for you to have the home appraised before you put it on the market. That’s because you could end up asking for a lot of money for your home and finding out it’s not worth that. Or, on the flip side, you may not think your home is worth much, but then you find out you could get a lot more for it. Doing this appraisal will ensure your home is priced right and that there aren’t any issues that could arise as you move forward with a potential buyer.
- Pay attention to your timeline.
Sometimes you can take all the time you need to move, and sometimes you are forced to move by a certain deadline. No matter which category you may fall into, it’s important for you to pay attention to your timeline. The entire home buying process can be time-consuming, so if you have a specific date you need to move by, then you either need to ensure you’re sticking to your timeline or you’re making other arrangements to accommodate for that timeline.
Purchasing a home is a big decision, and if you find yourself in this situation, doing all these things can help make it less stressful.
Very timely article. Especially for first time home buyers.