Looking to buy a home? Here are five mistakes you need to avoid when starting the hunt.
Skipping the Inspection
Home inspections are crucial to the home buying process. Remember, when you own a home all of the repairs become your responsibility, which means that botched wiring, faulty foundations, leaky plumbing, etc. will come out of your wallet. An inspection that costs a couple hundred bucks could save you thousands in the long run.
Ignoring problems
If an inspector tells you there are some issues with the home don’t disregard them. Enlist the services of repair professionals to estimate how much each problem could cost to fix. Then decide if the home is worth the additional costs.
Not thinking about the future
Buying a home is a commitment and not something you should hop into without considering the future. If you plan on moving to a new area, starting a family or becoming a landlord, search for homes that are large enough to accommodate, in good school districts or appeals to potential renters.
Not doing your due diligence
A home may look terrific when you first see it, but you should do your due diligence to inspect the neighborhood during different times of day and travel the commute to work and back.
Falling for an illusion
Home staging is a technique that many sellers use to help advertise their home. Often times it can be used to disguise any shortcomings that might deter buyers such as limited storage, small square footage or necessary repairs.
Christine is the Content Marketing Coordinator for Homes.com. She's a small town girl at heart, who currently lives in Norfolk, VA with her husband and their fur baby. When she's not working, she enjoys cooking, decorating, traveling, and binge watching Netflix. As a proud Virginia Tech alum, she also loves cheering on the Hokies!
