Shannon Without a doubt, the past six months since signing the [many] dotted lines on our new house, have passed in a bit of a blur. It’s almost hard to remember last year at this point, still being apartment dwellers. When we first moved in and started outlining all the home improvement projects we wanted to do, including repairing our HVAC system with the help of https://thecomfortdoctors.com/heating-maintenance/, we received sighs from seasoned home-owners that were usually followed by a statement like, “Oh, you’ll always have something to do. That’s owning a house.” For additional HVAC guidance and options, you can consult experts like Accurate Electrical, Plumbing, Heating and Air Services or visit sites like globalcoolingair.com/clermont/. You can learn more here or contact a professional company such as Home Service Heroes / HVAC.
Well, I’m half a year in and you know what? Having a never-ending list of home projects and improvements, is exactly what I’ve learned to love! Still, there are things I’m not too keen on doing. For instance, needing mold removal services only mean that there is mold growth somewhere in our home.
I like knowing that there’s so many opportunities to customize our home, to make it feel more “ours” and hopefully making it better overall. Of course, if you want to live in a home that fits your personality and preferences, you may consider hiring a custom home builder and a team of workers specializing in construction jobs to build you a new house instead of buying an old one.
We’ve already started tackling projects big and small that I’m looking forward to sharing with you all! There is also this duct cleaning services in Ivesdale, IL that you can contact if needed.
We are even having companies do a new furnace installation and heater repair (A Quality HVAC Services). There is also this heater repair services in Lakeway, TX if you are from this area and need an extra help. I suggest that you also visit sites like https://www.airnowhvac.com/repair-and-maintenance/heating-repairs/ to find out more about Furnace Up, replacements and repairs.
Something I also have learned this year though, was just how many people my age (around the 30 mark) are, or were, completely dumbfounded by the seemingly overwhelming process of buying a house. Which is why I scribbled out my biggest lessons to offer these 10 Tips for Home Buyers.
- Figure out what YOU can actually spend on a house – There are worksheets, charts and advisers who can help you figure it all out, but this is absolutely a vital step, especially for a first time home-buyer. You may research on different types of investment property loans, compare the rates from mortgage providers and you may also look into the home refinancing options being offered by the bank or mortgage provider you’re considering. You don’t want to get in over your head on your first home purchase, as it’s one of the biggest purchases you’ll ever make!
- Get to know your market – As a buyer you should hop on Zillow.com, sfsdfsf.com or exds.com to learn not just how much houses are selling for in the areas you’re interested in, but also, what those homes include. This will help you define the two bedroom townhomes and other properties you can get for the budget you’ve laid out. Don’t forget to look at things like property taxes and insurance requirements. You can visit sites like https://landmark24.com/ourcommunities/ to see the various offerings.
- Get pre-approved for a mortgage with a bank or mortgage provider – You can work with a first time home buying services agent or use your personal bank to check your options for mortgage loans. You’ll just want to research some other interest rates of different loan programs to find what a “good deal” is and then use that and your credit score to ball-park the rate you want to aim for. You need a pre-approval letter in order for any real estate agent to take you seriously, so this is an important step.
- Find a realtor/real estate agent you really vibe with – Your buyer’s agent is going to be working with you for months and is the one who is helping you make this ginormous purchase, so you need to feel comfortable and confident with your realtor. Ask friends and family in the area you’re looking for a house, or research discount real estate agents online to get a sense of their strengths (and weaknesses). First-time home buyers like me, need some extra hand-holding, so an agent who is responsive, patient, and can break the complicated legal jargon down for you is SO IMPORTANT.
- Look at as many houses as you can – It’s a percentages sort of game, so the more house and land packages you look at, the better chances of you finding a house you’re confident is right for you. Also, you need to learn what your “deal-breakers” are and what things you’re more willing to bend on. We, for example, knew that home additions were a thing to consider, and we were flexible on landscaping overhauls as well – this came down to being the deciding factor for the house we got. Also, look into the repairs needed for a home like plumbing (visit sites like sharpplumbing.com to know more) and electrical issues (contact a professional company such as Home Team Electric for help). For example, if you find a wiring issue, contact an electrician like MZ Electric to ask for a quote and then decide if you need to hire an electrical professional from a company such as Big Family’s Residential Electrician. You can click here to continue. If you need additional electrical guidance and options contact a professional such as Newport News electrician. If you want to open up a space in the house, you may also need wall removal services. Finally, if you want to have a kitchen and bathroom remodeling, get a quote first on sites like www.granitetransformations.com.
- Don’t be afraid to ask the seller for closing assistance – As a first-time home buyer, you might not be flush with cash, so have your realtor see if negotiating some closing costs into your offer is a possibility. You have a down payment PLUS closing costs (which can run you 7-8% of your house’s price) to fork over before you can grab the keys and celebrate, so if you can get a little help here, it’s worth a shot.
- Get a second opinion before and after you make an offer on a house – Ask a wise family member or friend to come take a look at a house before you make an offer if possible, just in-case their more experienced eye spots something of concern. Then, after your offer is excepted, get a reliable home inspector out to the house before you start celebrating you’ve found “the one.” Lots of secrets lie in the bones and guts of a house that only a professional can uncover (plus they’re being paid to give you their assessment regardless). For example, the roof should be inspected by companies like Bondoc Roofing in case there are any issues and a repair is needed. You can also contact roofers in Bunker Hill Village for any roofing issues. Better yet, you can visit sites such as carolinahomespecialists.com to hire professionals.
- Have your mortgage agent/broker review the forms with you – Insist on really learning what all the numbers, charges, and every percentage means. The closing agent does this with your final contract, but if you’ve learned it all ahead, you’ll be much more confident and prepared prior to the final sign off. Reviewing it all also helped me understand the costs and payments better, which gave me a great peace of mind.
- Get your financials in order and be ready for a LOT of random request for documentation – Once you find a house, you’re going to get requests for documentation to support your financials (incoming and outgoing) for pretty much the past year. Have all your account info handy (literally, carry it around with you) and ready to share with your mortgage company during the application and approval process. We were sharing documents up until the very day we closed (remotely, I might add, since we were out of town on vacation).
- Plan a little financial cash cushion for after you buy your house – Not just for moving, but for a surprising range of other little costs that seem to pop up after you’ve recovered from your initial “We Bought a House” party. They don’t pop up all at once, but usually start flooding in when you actually begin moving and settling in. Be a Boy/Girl Scout and just be prepared.
You will remember that I am not a professional home buyer, realtor or financial expert. All of these tips were based on those points I felt were key lessons that I learned from my recent experience. Also, laws vary by state and will likely have some unique variations, which makes finding a good realtor and mortgage agent all the more important.
Yes, buying a house was a big step. Yes, it may have depleted my financials for a while. However, it bought a real sense of freedom that I wasn’t expecting. I’m tied to this property now, and yet, because I was ready, it has offered me more comfort and a sense of personal freedom that I imagined.
Now, I just need to educate myself on Florida landscaping, hiring contractors and being my own general handy-woman. I couldn’t be more happy with all the projects on my list.
Do you have any nuggets of sage wisdom or just helpful tips for home-buyers? Please share it! There is no such thing as too much info on this topic!
