Buying a home is stressful – even if you have done this before! And when it is your first home, the stress level can sometimes be through the roof. As a Realtor who works with many first time homebuyers, I understand this. I am always letting my buyers know that house hunting is not quite like you see on House Hunters TV show on HGTV!
So when you are out there looking for your first home you constantly have to keep in mind that there are things to dwell on – and things that you really shouldn’t dwell on! Here is my list – let me know if there is anything I am missing!
THINGS NOT TO DWELL ON!!!
- Cosmetic details such as paint and hardware!Paint is something you can probably do yourself – you can always get new hardware for cabinets at places like Lowe’s or Home Depot – and the landscaping can always be changed!Instead, focus on things like the architectural details in the house and ways you can make the house the way YOU want it to be!
- Furnishings in the house! Remember, the seller’s furniture may not be your taste but it will be gone after closing and your furniture will be in the house!Instead, focus on the size and layout of the rooms and whether your furnishings will fit into the rooms!
- Window Treatments such as blinds and curtains! Even if you don’t like the window treatments that will convey with the house, it is nice to have the privacy it gives when you first move into the house!After that you can buy the window treatments that you like!Instead, focus on the energy efficiency of the windows and how much light come into the house!
- Light fixtures in the house! If the light fixtures in the house are ornate and grand and you are more into contemporary styled fixtures, it is easy to switch out those things once you have purchased the house!Instead, pay attention to whether or not the rooms have the capability to have overhead lighting!
- Landscaping! If you have pets, you probably want a fenced in yard – but if there is no fence, it can always be added after closing!If the yard has more plants and trees than you want, you can always change the landscaping!Instead, pay attention to the yard size and slope to see if it can work for you!
THINGS TO DWELL ON!!!
- Needs & Wants! When you began the search for a home, hopefully, you made a Needs & Wants List of those things you absolutely NEED in your home and those things that you WANT (would be nice to have)!Pay attention to make sure that the house meets your needs & wants list!
- Long Term Goals! Given the market we are currently in, if you pay top dollar for your home, you will probably need to stay there for awhile, especially if the market begins to cool down!That means you will want your home to suit not only your current lifestyle, but also your future lifestyle!
- Drawbacks you can’t easily fix! Look critically at the house – there are things that you may not be able to easily fix after closing – low ceilings can’t be raised easily; adding a master bath may not be able to be done easily!
- Age of the house can’t be changed! Older homes have lots of charm & character and you may love those things!But they can also have old house issues – closets tend to be small, insulation may be non existent, windows may be drafty, heating systems may be inefficient, maintaining the house may be more costly!If these are important, make sure you take them into consideration when looking at homes!
- Neighborhood and schools! If schools are important, make sure you are comfortable with the school system the house is in now – at some point new schools could be erected but there is no guarantee that the neighborhood will be redistricted into the new school!Remember when you buy a house, you are also buying a neighborhood!So make sure you are comfortable with the neighborhood as well!
There is a lot that goes on when you are buying a home – whether it is your first or not! Don’t get hung up on those things that you can change down the line! Look at those things that you will have to live with for many years to come that you can’t change after closing!
Thinking of buying your first home? Thinking of moving up or moving down? Relocating? Have a question? Feel free to contact me – I am happy to help! I have been helping buyers and sellers with their real estate needs in the Richmond area since 1996 and I would love to help you with your real estate needs!
