Here is a list of my best “tips” for house hunting. I put these together after countless hours working with buyers here in Boulder County and thought those of you considering buying a home could benefit. My goal is to make the hunt for a house successful. If you keep these tips in mind I know you will have the best experience possible.
- Get pre-approved: This means a mortgage lender has verified that you are approved for a mortgage of a certain amount over a fixed timeframe. A preapproval helps you narrow down the homes under consideration because it tells you what price house you can afford. It also allows you to move on the right home right away, and tells the Sellers you are ready to move forward and capable of closing the deal on that home. Remember that you can certainly buy a home for less than your pre-approval amount. Think of pre-approval as your limit, and make sure to stick with you budget. A preapproval should be done before you ever go out and start looking at properties.
- Work with a buyer’s agent you like and trust: You will be spending a lot of time with your buyer’s agent. During the home search you can be together for hours at a time, and once you are under contract you often times talk on a daily basis. Be open and honest with your agent and expect the same in return. A buyer’s agent should always have your best interests in mind. Get referrals from friends and family.
- Think outside the box: Often times buyers think they know exactly what they want, but as they see more homes they discover their priorities might not have been set up front. Will you only go look at homes with hardwood floors, or would you consider making that update once you are in a home? Are ranch homes your favorite, but you might be willing to consider another style for the right location? Keep an open mind and weigh all the factors for each individual home. Make sure to communicate your likes/dislikes to your agent.
- Don’t see more than 8-10 properties a day: If you are moving from out of the area and only have a limited amount of time to find a property I still recommend seeing no more than 10 homes a day. After seeing 4-5 homes they all start looking the same. You’ll exhaust yourself mentally and physically if you try and “see them all.” Pare down your list online as much as possible before you head out to see the homes in person.
- Bring water and snacks when you are out viewing properties: You don’t want your exhaustion to keep you from taking the time you need in each house or from enjoying the “hunt”.
As a buyer’s agent I work hard to make sure I’m working together with clients towards a common goal. Keep communications open and ask questions. You’re not expected to know everything about the process of buying a home. That’s my job!
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