It’s the month of love and falling for a house is one of those ‘once in a lifetime’ loves that homeowners’ are searching for. Yet, buying the first house you look at is kind of like marrying the first person you ever go on a date with – not necessarily a good idea. Most professionals in the housing market agree that potential homebuyers view at least three houses, no matter how much you liked the first one you saw. What should you look for when it comes to searching for your dream home?
- POTENTIAL: the house you see is just a house. It’s what you bring to it that makes it a home. Maybe you don’t love the color or the mock layout (why is there 4 bedrooms when you could have a home gym and an office instead?) but those are things you can change. Let your imagination run wild when doing walk-throughs.
- FEATURES: identify the home features that keep you coming back. Maybe you absolutely adore the wrap-around porch but everything else feels meh. Put that porch on your list – your realtor might be able to find another listing nearby with a lower asking price or with other features you want.
- RED FLAGS: the first walk-through can feel exhilarating and fast. Maybe there was a bedroom ‘off-limits’ or you didn’t thoroughly inspect the house foundations. Allowing yourself to take some time between the first viewing and your offer means you’re less likely to miss something serious or end up falling for a false ‘love at first sight’ feeling.