Buying a home should be an exciting time, but it can be stressful, too. Many times, buyers unwittingly complicate the purchase process when they don’t understand the steps involved, or when they haven’t fully prepared themselves to complete a purchase.
With years of experience as sellers’ and buyers’ agents, our licensed Arizona Realtors have seen it all. Check out this list of the top 10 tips our Designated Broker / Owner Joe Maggiore, and licensed Realtor, Ryan Simon, recently shared for a drama-free home purchase.
Have questions about your upcoming home sale or purchase? Call us today at 480-270-5355.
#10 Educate Yourself
While buying a home may seem like a straightforward process, there are several steps involved. An experienced Realtor should provide an overview of these steps and the pitfalls that could prevent the transaction from closing at each stage. He or she should also keep you up-to-date as the deal progresses along the way. If you have questions, you should never hesitate to talk with your Realtor about how things are going – your agent should never make you feel like you’re bothering her.
#9 Get Financing in Order Early
Many home-buyers get excited about a particular area, or feel the pressure of a relocation or job offer and want to move ahead quickly. Get your financing together early – this might even mean cleaning up credit problems long before you intend on buying a home. If you don’t have a reputable lender, ask friends for referrals. Be honest about what you can afford, your income and debt, and stay within your means. Once you begin the process, avoid large purchases, like a vehicle, that could adversely impact your debt-to-income ratio.
#8 Be Honest with Your Agent
This tip can’t be overstated. You have to establish a relationship of trust with your Realtor. Be ready to tell your agent exactly what you want and don’t want in a home, or an area. We want blunt feedback; you’re not going to hurt our feelings if you don’t like a home we show you. In fact, you’re doing us a favor because we won’t waste our time, or yours, showing you homes that don’t suit your taste or needs. Your Realtor wants to help you meet your goals and make you happy as quickly and as smoothly as possible, so be honest about what you’re looking for.
#7 Be ‘Showing Smart’
Cut out the drama by being what we call “showing smart,” this means making a list of features and amenities you require in your ideal home, and working with your Realtor to get a realistic understanding of what you can afford and in which areas. Some homebuyers feel like they need to see EVERY home that turns up in a search. If a home isn’t going to meet your needs or doesn’t suit your taste, you can cross it off the list. If you drive up to a home and it doesn’t look like the photos or is in a part of town that doesn’t work with you, don’t feel like you need to go inside (see tip #8!). Be sure to take photos and organized notes about the homes that you do see and want to consider for possible purchase.
#6 Focus on What’s Outside the Home
This might sound odd; you’re buying the home, not the neighborhood, right? But the community can be just as important as the house itself. Once you narrow down the homes you might like to purchase, drive the neighborhoods at different times of day and say hello to neighbors if you’re comfortable doing so. This will give you an idea of what traffic noise and commute times are like, and what potential neighbors think about the area.
#5 Don’t Take it Personally
Ok, you found a home you love, and you’ve put in an offer. It’s time for your Realtor to do her magic, she’s going to go to bat for you and look out for your best interests. Hopefully, things will go smoothly, but she may need to engage in intense negotiations to try to get you what you want, especially if you’re asking for concessions. Put yourself in the seller’s shoes, and remember that the seller has a goal, too. Some buyers take this part of the process personally, and getting frustrated or petty over small details could be the difference between calling this place home, or not.
#4 Don’t Get Attached
We know this is easier said than done – once you put an offer in on a home, you’re really hoping it’s going to work out. You’re thinking about where you’re going to put your great aunt’s china cabinet, fantasizing about backyard BBQ’s, and choosing the perfect paint colors. Hopefully things will work out, but if they don’t, remember that there are other homes out there, and this isn’t a bad omen or a sign from the Universe that you should throw in the towel on buying a home. The Phoenix market is tricky for buyers right now, and it can take a few attempts at finding your perfect home, but it will work out.
#3 Keep it Moving
Once you have an accepted offer and you are progressing through the process of purchasing your new home, you’ll need to provide and complete paperwork. DO NOT BE THE BOTTLENECK. You don’t want to hold up the deal. Be sure you’re checking and replying to texts, emails, and phone calls during the purchase process, and if you have questions, reach out to your Realtor, lender, or title officer right away.
#2 Go Easy on the Repairs
You’re very likely going to have the home inspected, and you’re definitely going to find items in need of repair. How do we know? Because Every. Single. Home. that is inspected needs repairs. Every single one. Do not freak out. This is also not the time to split hairs. Can you easily handle some of the needed repairs? Or have a friend or handyperson that can complete some of them inexpensively? Perfect – ask the seller to handle the more complex, expensive, or health-and-safety related repair items, and those that are related to code violations. An experience Realtor will be able to counsel you on what to ask the seller for. Understand that this, too, is a negotiation and will require some give from both parties.
#1 Listen to your Agent
Did you get that? Listen to your agent is #1 for a reason! It is your agent’s job to look out for your best interests, so let us do that. We have a fiduciary responsibility to our clients, and we’ve done this before, usually many times. Confused? Nervous? Unsure what to do? Call us, that’s what we’re here for, and we’re happy to help. These are our Top 10 Tips for a Drama-Free Home Purchase. Still have questions? Feel free to give us a call at 480-270-5355.