It is time for you to purchase a home and you are unsure of what to look for when you go with the Realtor. Be a smart Home Viewer and make sure that you do your research prior to going out on the road to look.
One of the most important aspects of buying a home is knowing what location you want to be in, and research each town that you are thinking about looking in. Learn about the area, the schools, local shopping and the recreational programs and parks if you have children.
After you have picked several towns that you like, then the fun begins. Go onto the websites and take a look at the houses that are on the MLS listings to see what is on the market. Take a look at the listings and the photos of the homes. Know what type of style home that you like, and make a list of the ones that interest you.
When it is time to go to the homes with your Realtor, it is important that you keep strategies in mind. The location of the home is very important. Is it in an area of the town that you like, is it near local transportation (if you are commuting), and are there parks close by if you have kids?
Is there a type of street that you like best? A col-de-sac, a dead end, tree lined?
I know when I was looking for a home 16 years ago, I wanted one that had a feel of the country, so I have a buffer zone to a country club, it is nice because I have woods behind me but no one can ever build on it.
So you are now out looking at the homes and you drive up to the first house. What is the curb appeal to the front of the house like? Is it aweful? Just remember that the trick is to view it with the changes that can easily be made to it. Keep a piece of paper with you and jot down all of the improvements that might need to be made to the home.
Once you go inside, it is important that you do not look at what the present home owner has in the rooms, but try to view it with how you would decorate it with your belongings, or new ones. If the home seems to need a lot of work, jot down what needs to be done.. this will come in handy later when you have to remember all of the homes that you saw on that day.
Keep track of the pros and cons of each home that you are seeing. Later when you sit down with your spouse or partner this will come in handy.
Now that you are making a decision, come up with a budget of what you thinkt he house will need to have done to it to make it YOUR HOME!
Now you must do a little more research and see what the other recently sold homes in the area have sold for. Remember that the market has taken a slight crunch so the homes you are comparing them to should be recent, and have the same criteria.
Take your favorite home that you want to live in, look at the possibilities of what can be done to it, and then think about whether you would be happy living there.
Discuss an offer with your Realtor, but remember that it is a buyers market. The Seller might be motivated to sell, and this would be to your benefit. Make an offer that you can live with, and have enough money to do all of the items on your list to make it the home that you will love living in.
If you have questions on what the repairs and upgrades will cost, get advice from someone in the business.
Good luck and happy home shopping..