The way we buy homes has shifted drastically over the last couple of decades. It used to be that you would look through catalogs of homes with tiny thumbnail pictures and have to rely solely on your realtor to get you in the door of potential homes to buy.
Here is the new road map to best consider your options for buying a home.
Dare to Dream
Get online and start looking. Use any number of tools available to begin the search. Start making a list of the features in homes that you love. Make notes on which of these things are cosmetic (and doable by you) or essential foundational items. The entire world, all neighborhoods, every price point, everything is available at your fingertips. If you are not encumbered by location, even take a look at different areas. Though it may seem frivolous, this helps create an image of what you ultimately desire in a home. (For additional pragmatic home buying advice, read my other blog here.)
You can do all of this and you won’t have the pressure of a salesperson standing over your shoulder.
Look/See
Once you find something that stands out to you as a viable option, go ahead and attend an open house or contact the listing agent. If you contact the listing agent directly, there isn’t a fee. Chances are they will be more than happy to assist their client in selling their home, and keep in mind that the first house you look at, most likely won’t be your last. Most buyers look at least a dozen homes. It’s simply part of the process.
Enlist Support
Ultimately, one of the best tools in getting you the home you want, is having a great local agent. Sure, you’ve been able to find homes online or contact agents directly. And if that hasn’t yet led you to the right home, a partnership with the right person can make all the difference in the world. Agents often hear of homes before they get listed. They keep your desires in mind and can sort through a myriad of options to lead you to the best fit. Ask your friends and family for referrals to see if they have someone they recommend.
Trust Your Instincts
Buying a home is something you may only do a few times in your life and tends to be an emotional experience. It’s financially consuming and life altering. This is absolutely the time to trust your instincts and not second guess your intuition. If you have a bad feeling about a neighbor, don’t buy the house. If you have found the right place, your dream home, offer what you can, don’t skimp. Don’t let remorse haunt you.
Keep At It
This is a process. There are a huge number of homes to view online, and many you can see in person. Keep at it. Soon enough you will dial in your preferred location and style. You’ll know exactly what you want and where. Your vision will be clear and inevitably you will be walking into your new home, with no regrets in no time.