Real Estate Agent Tips - How to Avoid Common Mistakes
Sadly, it is very often the case that first time home buyers will let their emotions get the better of them. It may not manifest as a raving hissy fit but to some degree they will delude themselves into overlooking certain “blemishes” out of sheer determination to get the home they saw at first glance. There are quite a range of emotions when trying to buy a home and it is easy to fall prey to them. You have to be mindful of where you are making your decisions, your head or your heart. Hearts are great for love and compassion but generally stink at balancing a check book.
Always remember that when you’re buying a home you’re making a long term financial commitment and it’s something that you should be doing with a level head. Excitement and other emotions can easily blind you from glaring issues and mistakes, home problems, and red flags in quality that could wind up crippling your finances.
Here are some of the most common mistakes you should try to avoid when purchasing property:
1. Blowing your Budget - It is not the easiest thing to walk away from the home of your dreams when you stumble across it. It can feel like it was destiny that out of all the houses this is the one you “just happened” to walk into. Well truth be told, it didn’t just happen the house is awesome because somebody with similar tastes made it awesome. The question is can you afford to have such unbridled coolness. Not everyone can afford the payments on a house of godly grandeur and “wootness” beyond compare. Be honest with yourself, don’t let your inner teenager tell you that, you can do anything, have everything and you’ll worry about the consequences later. Later isn’t very far off.
2. Being Stubborn - It is said that certain people can teach a mule a thing or two about stubbornness and win a staring contest with a rock. (Usually it’s us guys) but that isn’t always a good quality. When it comes down to buying a house being too set on what the only home you’ll accept “must” be like is going to cause you a lot of misery. Be more open, the likelihood of finding the perfect dream home exactly the way you want it is slim to none unless you build it yourself, and that is expensive. Don’t be so picky as to hurt yourself financially or drive your family nuts with your demands. Remember once you own the home you can change anything you can afford to have remodeled or tweaked.
3. Ignoring the Flaws - “Ah love! C’est magnifique, non?” It is great to fall in love with a home but don’t let it put you in an abusive relationship with a pile of moldy timbers. Some flaws are acceptable to overlook. A few wrinkles, some scuffs, maybe a tiny draft from a door that needs replacing but is still structurally sound. Things like that can be remedied pretty quickly and without too much expense. Things like cracked and crumbling foundations, mold filled crawl spaces and spongy floors on rotten timbers cannot. Don’t let a home’s curb appeal hide the fact that it might just roll over on you in your sleep.
4. Making a Hasty Offer - Don’t let yourself be dragged into an emotional state where you just have to have it no matter what. Nothing is worth that much dedication at a glance without doing some major checking. This is an enormous investment for almost everyone and should be treated with the respect due. Take your time and make sure you settle on an appropriate offer instead of rushing in heart first while your heads still rolling up the sidewalk.
A good way to keep yourself in check is to bring a friend or loved one that is good at talking you out of trees. (Figuratively speaking) Having a real estate agent of your own that you can trust is a good choice.
Whether you’re looking for a Washington DC Real Estate agent or a home in Virginia, our Northern Virginia realtors can help you grab up the perfect home at a price that you can afford. Don’t let that dream home slip by - contact Washington DC Realtors, together we can find the perfect home. Paragon Remodeling - 8000 Towers Crescent Dr - Vienna, VA 22182