I love it when a client of mine buys a home. It is the culmination of a process that can be exciting but exasperating, rewarding and enriching — in ways even an appreciating asset like a home in Bend can’t touch.
Most important, though, I want all homebuyers — not just my clients — to be happy with the homes they buy. To try to produce that type of an outcome, I have these tips to consider before you decide you have found the perfect home:
- Ask your best friend to look at the home. Sometimes, a buyer is dazzled by one or two features of a home and blind to its faults. Someone who knows you through and through will be able to tell if the house fits you. And by best friend, I don’t mean your spouse or partner (who might be tempted to be agreeable). I mean that someone who is your go-to person when you need honesty, that someone who isn’t afraid to say, “What the heck?” when something just feels wrong. Having a soulmate look at your prospective home with a critical eye will give you a valued third-party perspective about this huge step you’re considering.
- Don’t make up your mind too soon. If you’re eager to buy a house, it’s easy to fall for one of the first properties you see and close your mind to anything that follows. Your desire to ditch apartment life or finally to have separate bedrooms for the kids can influence your decision-making in a negative way. If you have appointments to look at a certain number of homes, see them through — even if you are convinced the first or second of eight showings on a weekend was just made for you.
- Understand a home’s hidden characteristics. It’s perfectly fine to want to buy a house with a fabulous bathroom. But be careful you’re not buying a home because of a fabulous bathroom. Just about anything about a home that you can see can be changed to fit your tastes. What you can’t see — the foundation, the plumbing and electrical systems — and what you can’t change — location, lot size, neighborhood traffic — are more difficult (or impossible) to alter and might have more effect on your long-term satisfaction with a home.
- Ask your Realtor to offer reasons maybe you shouldn’t buy the house. Much like your best friend (see tip No. 1), your Realtor can see potential drawbacks about a house that you might miss. Your best friend will see how the house fits you; the Realtor will see how the house fits everyone. If you’re “eco-conscious,” you’ll want the Realtor to note how much water the huge lawn will require and the inefficiency of the aging furnace. Your Realtor will note that a home near a school means not only slow traffic in the area but also considerable congestion twice a day and on any nights school activities are scheduled. If the house is right for you, you’ll appreciate knowing about these caveats your Realtor throws at you.
As a Realtor, I don’t want to just complete a deal for my clients. I want to complete the right deal for my clients. For the best result in a real estate transaction, you’ll want a Realtor who puts your best interests first. If you list your home with me or you are buying with me as your Realtor, I will use my experience and knowledge to your benefit. To learn more about how I can assist you in your real estate transaction, contact me at (541) 383-1426, or visit Bend Property Search to connect with me through my website.