Important Things to Remember When House Hunting

They say that one of the most stressful times in someone’s life is when they are buying a house. There are so many things to consider, it usually requires spending a lot of money, and can be made even harder if there is more than one person involved in the decision-making process. Often times a couple can have different ideas of what is important in a home and it may take some compromising to make everyone happy. Once you know you want or need to move, it can be hard to figure out where to start. We have compiled some useful tips below to help you avoid missing anything.

Have Priorities

The best way to start is by making a list of your priorities. These can be big and small, don’t hesitate to start big and pare it down as you go until you have a list of non-negotiable priorities, and another list of preferences, if that is helpful. Is accessibility to public transportation or being near a park important? Do you have to have a bathtub or maybe you won’t settle for a home without a front porch? Everybody has their own preferences but it is important to get them all out in the open in the beginning.

Be Willing to Compromise

Once you have your list, or lists, of priorities you should do a run through and see where you can be flexible. Especially if you have a partner in this process, take time to go over each of your priorities and preferences, there will be some overlap but there will also be items that are more favored by one than the other. Be willing to compromise from the start, but remember to carry that with you throughout the process. There may be times where you find a house you love but it is missing one thing from your list. If you can, let this go. Finding a home with 90{ef6a2958fe8e96bc49a2b3c1c7204a1bbdb5dac70ce68e07dc54113a68252ca4} of your priorities met is a huge accomplishment.

Neighborhoods Can Change

Whether you are relocating to a neighborhood near your current home, or across the country, make sure you take time to explore the area thoroughly. Sometimes neighborhoods become trendy but will be over crowded within a matter of years. Other times a neighborhood may have a bad rap but be on its way to becoming an exciting vibrant place to live. If you don’t have a car to get around and visit neighborhoods outside of your immediate surroundings, you can rent a car from Sixt and see how those areas compare to what you know and are familiar with.

Take Your Time

Do not ever feel like you have to rush through the viewing of a house. Buying a house is a huge purchase, and it is important to make sure you have the time to check out everything. Not only do you want to be sure all your furniture will fit, but you want to avoid missing anything that may come up in an inspection or even worse, surprise you after moving in. Be sure to open all cabinets and closets, look under rugs, and bring a measuring tape!