So, you have done your research and found a great real estate agent to work with. You have gotten pre-qualification from your lender. What are the next steps?
Buying a home is a big decision, and there are many factors to consider in your search. These days it is more important than ever to have a home that serves your needs, whatever they may be. How can you be sure your time and energy spent house hunting will yield the best results? Is it more space than you need most? Is there a particular neighborhood or school system that can make or break the deal? Are you saving the most money?
When considering what is most important to you, making a list of priorities can be extremely helpful. That way, even if you can’t check every box on the list, you can easily weigh your options and find the best fit that is available to you. Here are some items that can easily be overlooked but you will want to include on your list.
Renovations and Home Improvements
During your home buying search, it’s easy to be enamored with a home that’s for sale at under-market value. After all, finding a great deal on a home is the best-case scenario. Just remember: be sure to consider the renovation costs of any home that’s price seems too-good-to-be-true. From walls that need to be repainted, a kitchen that is in desperate need of modernization, a roof that is in disrepair – and everything in between – renovation costs are something that can sneak up on an unsuspecting home buyer.
Here’s a pro-tip: be sure to add on any renovation estimates to the listed price of the home – you’ll thank us later.
