1. Get Pre-Approved
It is a waste of time to view houses that you are unable to afford. Talking with a mortgage professional is absolutely the first step in buying a home. Before venturing out into the market you need to understand what a home will really cost you. This also refines the search parameters we use.
It is a waste of time to view houses that you are unable to afford. Talking with a mortgage professional is absolutely the first step in buying a home. Before venturing out into the market you need to understand what a home will really cost you. This also refines the search parameters we use.
2. Plan Ahead
This is often overlooked in the home buying process. Buyers get excited once they are pre-approved and want to view houses right away. However, before we go exploring the market it is recommended to meet together and create a plan. Important components of this plan include which neighbourhoods are preferred, price, schools, home size, and nice-to-haves vs. absolute requirements. The time it takes to develop this plan is brief compared to the time it saves the Realtor and client from viewing incompatible homes.
3. Viewing Homes
Some clients buy the first house they view while others look at 20-plus before making a decision. Everyone is on their own home-buying journey. Make sure you see a good selection of what's available in the market prior to making a decision. It is important you see enough to make a confident decision. Take your time.
4. Stay Organized
You will most likely see several properties before buying one and many time these properties will start to blur together. It is very important that you keep good notes of what you are seeing to help make your decision.
5. Be Ready to Act
Once you've narrowed down the search to one house it's time to make an offer. Sometimes another buyer likes the same house and writes a competing offer. Be prepared to write a strong offer if this is the case. Things that make a strong offer are price, deposit size, dates, and conditions. In either case I will be available to advise you in all aspects of the process.
