5 Tips When Searching for Your New Home

Searching for a new home is an exciting but sometimes stressful experience. Not everyone enjoys the process of finding a new home. But with a bit of planning and organizing, it is possible to streamline your search and set yourself up for success. When it comes time to relocate, finding the right home is an essential part of ensuring an optimal quality of life. Also, if you can find the right home, you are likely to stay in your home longer, preventing unnecessary moves in the future. Whether it is your first time purchasing real estate or you are a seasoned professional, here are a few tips to make your search for a new home more successful and enjoyable.

1. Work With a Realtor

Searching through all of the available listings is time-consuming and can drain your energy. Utilizing the services of a professional real estate agent to search on your behalf is your first step to a smooth real estate experience. An agent can set you up on an auto-search, allowing new properties matching your search criteria to be sent straight to your inbox. A real estate agent will also have valuable knowledge and insight regarding schools, neighbourhoods, crime rates, etc., and will be able to help you identify any red flags while you are viewing potential properties. It is important to have your own representation when buying a home, instead of working with the property’s listing agent. Listing agents are hired by the seller, to represent their best interests which can lead to a conflict of interest if you decide to work with them.

2. Ensure Your Finances Are In Order

Getting pre-approved by your lender in advance makes your job of buying a home much easier because you will know how much you can afford. It will also allow you to move quickly when you find a home that you want to purchase. Your lender will help you determine what your monthly payments will be based on how much money you borrow, which will be helpful for budgeting as you get ready for your move. If you find yourself in competition with another buyer, you will have a better chance of having your offer accepted if you can show the seller a pre-approval letter from your lender. For more information on getting pre-approved please read our article entitled Why It Is So Important To Get Pre-Approved For A Mortgage Before House Hunting.

3. It is Never Too Early To Start

Finding the perfect home can take months, especially if you are looking in a competitive market. You need to give yourself enough time to weigh your options and view many different kinds of homes before making your decision. By giving yourself enough time, you can begin to work out what options best suit you and your family. Try to be patient. The more thorough you are in your search, the happier you will be in the long term.  As your search continues, you will become more familiar with the buying process and home values in your area, giving you an advantage when it comes time to put an offer on a property.

4. Calculate the Pros and Cons

Creating a list of pros and cons for each of the properties you are interested in is a simple, yet effective way to help you decide which home is the best fit for you. A home’s value will vary depending on the buyer and what is important to them. A home may be worth more or less to you than what its market value dictates. For example, if a home has been fully renovated but you plan to change those renovations, you would not want to pay full market value for that home. You would need to take the cost of any upgrades you plan to make into consideration. On the other hand, a home may have features that you love that another buyer would want to change, making a home more valuable to you than to others.

5. There is No Need to Settle

Searching for a new home can be an emotional process and although finding a home that is perfect in every way is likely unattainable, you should not settle for anything that you are not happy with either. With most homes having multiple offers in the current market, you may feel pressure to make a decision quickly. It is recommended to sleep on any major decision to make sure you still feel the same way after having some time to think about it. Consult with your real estate agent, compare the pros and cons, without rushing or feeling pressured. If you are properly prepared and know exactly what you are looking for, you will be able to make your decision more easily. Know that there are many other homes available if a particular deal does not fall into place. If you settle too soon, you are more likely to be unhappy with your decision later on down the road.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. If you are looking for a professional real estate agent to help you find your next home, feel free to get in touch. I would love to help you in your search!

Michelle Stevens

REALTOR®

RE/MAX Hallmark Chay Realty Inc. Brokerage

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Email: michelle@jewelhouserealestate.com

Phone: 705-970-6137