Shopping for a new home can be overwhelming. Finding a real estate agent, looking at homes online, and applying for loan approval, there is a lot to do, and it can be difficult to know where to start.
Believe it or not, there is a first step that every home buyer should take–before they start interviewing real estate agents and before they look at even one home online.
Know What You Can’t Live Without
Make a list of everything you want in a home. If you are part of a couple, you should each have your own list.
When you have completed your home purchase wish list, take a look at each item. Ask yourself,
“Is this something that I really need in order to enjoy life in my new home?”
Then, get rid of anything that you know you can do without, and still be perfectly content.
The Tough Decisions
Now it is time to prioritize the wish list. The top two items should be those items on which you will not compromise, as living without them would make you miserable. For some folks that might be a gourmet kitchen or space for a garden.
The bottom two items should be those that you are willing to compromise on.
Now, compare your home purchase wish list with your partner’s. Anything that is on both of your lists is a priority and should probably be moved to the top.
Inevitably, though, there will be items each of you will need to compromise on, thus the little “bargaining chips” at the bottom of the list: sort of a “I’ll give you the garage in exchange for the fireplace” type of thing.
It’s Not Set In Stone
One thing that may surprise you is that this list will change as you begin to actually view homes. You may discover a feature in a home that you didn’t consider when you wrote the original list.
It’s very common that some buyers say they absolutely need to have a certain feature in a home yet the home they finally choose lacks that feature.
Don’t feel as if this list is set in stone, but do inform us if anything changes.
The wish list works well to help cut down your confusion when presented with an array of homes to view. It also helps your agent to keep focused and not waste everyone’s time by showing you homes that don’t fulfill your desires.
You’ve just taken the first step to make sure that your new home is one that fulfills at least most of your wishes. That house is out there. Count on it.
Alex Saenger and the Saenger Group are Top 1% Maryland Real Estate Agents serving the Washington DC Metro area. We are licensed Realtors based in Rockville, MD at Keller Williams Capital Properties.
