House buying is a cost-intensive venture; therefore, when you are doing it, you need to be cautious so that you buy the right one. To help you out, here are tips that you should consider when making the purchase:
Don’t go it solo
Buying a house isn’t like buying a bicycle. As mentioned above, you will be spending a lot of money on it which means that if you make the wrong decision, you will most likely regret it your entire life.
For you to be on the safe side, hire a real estate agent to help you out. In addition to the agent scheduling and accompanying you on the house showing, he/she also has the necessary information of the entire process which means that you will not only buy the right house, you also will complete the process fast.
Many people tend to shy away from hiring an agent as they deem them expensive. You should note that the agent is paid through the sale of the house. You only pay for the house and the seller takes care of the rest.
When you are hiring the agent, you need to be cautious so that you hire the right one. As rule of thumb, ensure that the professional is experienced enough in buying and selling of the kinds of houses that you are interested in.
Don’t a book by its cover
Many house sellers know the power of house staging. They will place the best quality furniture, carpets, pictures and other things to make the house as pleasing as possible, but don’t fall for it.
Always take time to look beyond the surface. When you are seeing the house, look under the carpet for the condition of the floor. Sometimes the house will be in perfect condition but don’t stop there. You should hire a professional to inspect the house with a fine comb.
The professional should take a look at the foundation, plumbing, molding, and any other areas. As rule of thumb ensure that the house is properly maintained and it will be in good shape in the years to come.
Pay attention to your needs
Different people have different needs when it comes to houses. Some want houses that are near the main highway, others want those that are near schools, and many other things. Your needs should take precedence as buying a house that doesn’t meet them you will live with regret the entire time you are in the house.
If you have school going children, you should take your time to research and find whether the area has good quality schools for your children. It’s also good to consider the safety issues in the area and crime statistics.
If they are of importance to you, find out if there are any good hospitals, groceries, and pharmacies in the area.
Before you make the decision on whether you will go with a given house, drive through the neighborhood on various days and at different times to find out the traffic, noise, and activity levels.
If the area checks out on most of the things that you are looking for in a house, go ahead and place an offer.
Don’t shy away from negotiating
While you are making a huge purchase, it doesn’t mean that the price is set in stone. When you see a house that you like, you should make your offer depending on your budget. When you are making the offer, always negotiate the price.
If the house has areas that may need to be repaired, ask the buyer to handle it or give you a discount. You can also ask the seller to pay for the closing costs if they are there.
When making the offer, it’s always wise to have a buyer’s agent by your side. If your timing is right, and you are buying the house in the buyer’s market, you will find the seller bargaining with you so that he/she can get the house off the market.
Obviously, this will see you saving a lot of money and you will have an easy time completing the purchase.