Does the thought of house hunting make your blood pressure shoot through the roof? These five tips will help make your house hunting experience as stress-free as possible.
1. Location, location, location.
Location has a huge impact on your future home. Even your dream house could be a bad fit if the location is poor. How far is your commute to work or school? If you have children, how good are the schools? How good are the shopping malls, grocery stores, senior care centers, hospitals, and nearby universities if there are any? What about religious, ethnic, and employment demographics? Considering the answers to these questions can help you decide if the location is a good fit.
2. Make a list.
Do you (and your spouse, if you're married) actually know what you want and need in your new home? You'll save yourself many wasted hours looking at homes that don't really fit what you need by making a list with needs and wants, and be willing to be a little flexible. Understand which things you can sacrifice and what you can't. After you have a list of qualities you'd like in your home, make a checklist of listings you'd like to see that fit into your parameters.
3. Go for the long haul.
While searching for a home, look for one that you can see yourself living in for years to come. Leave a little room to grow for life changes, such as a new baby or Grandma moving in with you. If you can't find a home that has enough room now, find one that will allow you to add on later. Not only will this ensure you have enough space for your loved ones, staying in place for a while saves you thousands of dollars on closing and moving costs.
4. Make a comparison chart.
Once you've seen a dozen or more homes, it gets difficult to remember the features in each one. Making a comparison chart of features beyond the basics (beds and baths) such as landscaping and yard space, condition of the exterior, extras in the kitchen and laundry rooms, and bonus rooms can really help you make your decision.
5. Walk through each home twice.
The first time you walk through a home, wander around and let yourself soak in the general ambiance and floor plan. Once you've seen everything in the house once, go back to the front of the house and begin the tour again. This time, get out your notes and take the time to check everything out as if you were giving the home an inspection, not just touring to buy.
Happy house hunting! For listings in southern Idaho and all of Utah, visit cornerstonerealestatepros.com.
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