Are you thinking about buying a home? If you've done your share of house-hunting before, you know that finding that perfect house can be an exhausting endeavor financially, physically and emotionally.
In this Part II of our Home Buying checklist series - we're going to review the physical prep work necessary to get the most out of your house hunting.
In this Part II of our Home Buying checklist series - we're going to review the physical prep work necessary to get the most out of your house hunting.
Getting Physically Ready to Find a Home
1. Connect With a Realtor
Some buyers want to find the house before they find the right real estate agent but to do so is to ignore several resources that only an agent has access to. It's important to find an agent who is familiar with the area your interested in and has experience with the negotiating process. The market is hot right now and it pays to have an agent in your corner. Check out our post on 5 Topics to Discuss with Your Realtor here.
2. Plan Ahead
Whether you have been driving neighborhoods or scanning listings sent to you by your agent - take some time to review available houses BEFORE you head out the door. This strategy can save you a lot of wasted time. It also helps you clarify what features you are looking for in your next home. Once you have the list of properties, dedicate a day or two to visiting the homes based on geographic area so you spend as little time driving. This will definitely help if young children will be joining you on the house hunting.
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3. Create a Ranking Note Sheet
If you see multiple homes over one weekend, the differences can begin to blur. To keep your memory sharp about what you like and dislike about each home, take a notepad with you. After you visit a home, spend a few minutes ranking the top features on a simple "1 to 5" scale and note the key elements of the home. It will make the discussion at the end of the day much smoother. Plus if you have questions about financing a specific home - you can make a note to discuss with your mortgage professional.
4. Dress for Comfort
A day spent looking at houses is no different than a day spent at a theme park. Wear loose fitting clothes in layers so you can be comfortable getting in and out of cars as well as air conditioning (or heat). Choose comfortable shoes. There's nothing worse than scuffing your new loafers or trying to climb a hill in stilettos to sour your opinion about house hunting. In other words - leave style at home and stick with non-blister creating footwear.
5. Snacks & Hydration
If you need to see several homes in a day, you'll find that the trip will seem twice as long if your hungry and thirsty. Not to mention that stopping to eat could make you miss that open house. Plan ahead with some snacks and a couple of bottles of water and you'll be ready to go.
Midwest Equity Mortgage
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