It sometimes happens that buyers, on the hunt for that perfect home, can have a hard time finding it simply because they are not quite sure what they want. House hunting is supposed to be an exciting challenge and not something that fills us with dread.
If you are experiencing the latter, or if this is your first time buying a house and you do not know what to expect, we have some tips that will make finding that perfect home a memorable and exhilarating time it was meant to be.
Take a Tour of Homestyle in Your Area
Depending on where you live, you likely have a handful of home styles that are popular in your area as well as some staple home styles. Discovering which kind you are interested in, and which are suitable for your family’s needs, is important to help you narrow down your search, even if it’s so that you can discover what it is you do and do not like.
Thankfully, sites like Pinterest are great for gathering home inspiration and keeping it all in one place.
Understand Why You’re Moving (and Communicate That to Your Agent)
Have you given much thought to why you are moving or looking for a new home? Maybe you have a new job, and you would prefer a shorter commute. Perhaps your family has outgrown your starter home, and you need a space upgrade. Whatever the reason you’re in the market for a new home, discussing those reasons with your real estate agent is a must.
Real estate agents have seen and done it all when it comes to finding the right home for all types of people in all types of situations, and they have a wealth of information and experience to share. Having another person on the lookout for the things that are driving your move can make the process smoother and provide you with a more accurate list of homes to view.
Let Your Imagination Take the Lead
Be aware that No matter how many times it is advised, some sellers are simply unwilling or unable to create home spaces that allow potential buyers like you to see their home’s true potential. From messy rooms to walls covered floor to ceiling in personal photographs, some homes have a strong sense that they belong to someone else.
Before you begin to hit the road in search of your perfect home, prepare yourself to view every home, regardless of how it is presented, as though it styled and furnished with your things. It can be difficult, but learning to look beyond décor, wallpaper, and minor issues that are not exactly your taste, but can be easily remedied is key to seeing a home for what it could be rather than what it is.
Listen to Your Heart (and Your Gut)
While it takes some buyers five or ten or even two dozen home viewings before they find the one they’re looking for, for others it that gut feeling of “this is MY house” comes after seeing the first home on their list. That moment when you see the house that is right for you– if you are lucky it will make you feel that indescribable feeling of connection – don’t be surprised if it does not resemble the house that you pictured in your mind.
Your heart knows what’s right, and many buyers have true emotional reactions to homes when they find the right one. No matter what you think you want, need, or dreamed your house would be like when you know, you know. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t look at other homes as well, but jot down the feeling that you had in each home so that you can always remember what it felt like to call that house your home.
