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It is now time for the home search. Now, this can be the fun
part. It also comes with its fair share of stresses. Laura Gaskill of houzz.com
gives good advice when she says, “it's probably the most important purchase you
will ever make, so take a few deep breaths and make a plan before diving in —
you'll be glad you did.” The best advice is to enjoy this step, but be careful
to not let your emotions take control. It can be so easy to get so attached to a home
that you do not make good decisions. Try and find a good balance between your
heart and mind.
Before you ever look at a home, and after you have a
reasonable price range, it is time to start a list with three parts. The first
part is for your absolute needs for a
home. This needs to be a bare-bones list. Think of the things that you would
be miserable without. The second part, create a list of things that you really
want. These things are not luxury items, but things that would make your house
a home. The third part is the dream list. Keep reality in mind, but go ahead
and dream. After you have a good list, then share it with your realtor. Have a good
conversation about your list. There was a time when I did not do
this. My poor realtor ended up showing me about 100 homes. When I finally
choose a home, she was surprised by my choice. We had never really had a
conversation beyond my bare necessities, so that was all she showed me. I could
have saved a lot of time by having a more comprehensive list.
Then schedule a good block of time to look at homes. Leave
enough time between appointments that you do not have to rush through each
home. You need to take you time and get a real feel for the home. When you are looking at
homes, Christopher Middleton suggests that you “take your own pictures... Film
your visits on your phone, too. That way, you have something to refer to when
the properties start to blur in your brain.” Right after looking at home, I
write down some quick notes about what I liked about the home and what I did
not like. Those notes, with the pictures, will help you make the best decision
while you are logically thinking.
When all else fails, go with your gut. I have looked at so
many homes now, and moved so many times that I really rely on that feeling.
Although, even after I have gotten that "vibe," I still let that feeling sit a
little to make sure I feel that way after a little time. Remember to balance
your time well, you do not want to rush into a decision, but do not take so
long that the home you finally decide on is gone.
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