Buying a house is no small feat – it takes money, careful consideration, paperwork and legwork – and given that it’s not a purchase you make often, it’s understandable that it can all feel like a lot.
Thankfully, your real estate agent is there to show you the ropes, share their expertise, walk you through the process as painlessly as possible, help you avoid common pitfalls and mistakes, and maybe – just maybe – even find a way to make the process fun.
But even then, there are a few things your real estate agent wished you knew about buying a home – and some things they wished you knew to avoid – to help them help you.
- Know What You Can Afford. And the best way to know exactly what you can afford is to enter your income, savings, and other information into a home affordability calculator. Or you can get a mortgage pre-approval letter from a mortgage lender who will check your finances and decide how much they’d loan you.
- Shop For What You Can Afford. As tempting as it may be to ‘window shop’ beyond what you can afford, it’s best to not waste your time – or emotional attachment – on something that isn’t meant to be. And you certainly don’t want to push your budget so far that you become ‘house poor.’
- Don’t Call The Listing Agent. Buyers typically have their own agent, and sellers have theirs. And when you call the listing agent directly, you inadvertently imply that you don’t trust your agent and give your negotiating power to the seller’s agent.
- Stay Mum Around Other Agents. During showings and open houses, it’s always best to stay quiet. Information such as how many houses you’ve seen, if you like or dislike the house, and – worst of all – how much you can afford or are willing to spend shows your hand, reducing your negotiating power.
- You Don’t Have To See Every House. An experienced real estate agent and helpful tools like MLS mean you shouldn’t have to look at hundreds of properties to find The One. By screening properties so you only see ones that fit your criteria, your agent will ensure that you won’t have to look at every property within a 100-mile radius.
- Don’t Give In To Cold Feet. We get it: Buying a house is a HUGE commitment. There are so many what-ifs – and some may even be valid – but don’t let them get in the way of taking this exciting, important step. You can always sell your house down the road; this isn’t a death-do-you-part arrangement.
- Trust Your Real Estate Agent’s Expertise. You hired your real estate agent because you needed their knowledge, skills and expertise. While you may not always agree, remember that giving you their unbiased advice and recommendations is ultimately in their best interest.
- Communicate With Your Agent. We’ve said it a hundred times: ‘We can’t fix it if we don’t know about it.’ So when you are working with a real estate agent, communication is key. Explain what you want, when you want it, what you like and what you don’t like so your agent can find homes that fit exactly what you want and need.
Buying a home will be one of the largest purchases you’ll make in your lifetime – and we’re honored to share that incredible journey with each of our clients. At DeLeon Sheffield Company, we will work with you – day and night – to be with you every step of the way as you find the perfect house to call home. Call us today to let one of our experienced agents help make your home dreams a reality.
Because at DeLeon Sheffield Company, ‘We’re More Than Realty; We’re Family.’
