It's easy to conjure up an image of our perfect dream home. Actually finding that home and buying it is a whole other ballgame. Certainly, an experienced realtor can find homes that fulfill many of our wishes and needs, but before you head out and search for homes, there are a few things that you should keep in mind.
We all want the perfect house, but it's usually best to really focus on the main elements you need out of a home. For example, maybe you are working at home and you need a highly functional and private office space. Perhaps you have several children and need an adequate number of bathrooms and bedrooms to accommodate these needs. Maybe you have some mobility issues and need a single story home. A big yard also could be a big priority if you have a family or pets that need to run and play.
Location also is important. You might want to be out in the country or you might need close access to specific schools or want to be near your workplace. You cannot move a house, so you really need to love the location of your new home.
You need to be realistic about superficial items. If you hate the paint colors in a house or it's filled with ugly wallpaper circa 1965, you must look beyond these decorative features. It is important to know what architectural and design features are easy to change. Painting walls is inexpensive and fairly easy, so never let ugly paint dissuade you from purchasing a house that otherwise truly suits your needs. Simply changing paint can make a huge impact. It's more important to have a house that is large enough with a good layout than to have a home with perfectly updated decor. Decor can be changed easily, while layout is much more difficult to fix and sometimes impossible.
Budgets are important, but you can be a little bit flexible in your search. It's usually safe to look at homes that are $10,000 or a bit more over budget, because often you can negotiate the price down a bit. Also, just because you are pre-approved for a certain amount doesn't mean that you are required to spend that much, and you can certainly look for homes that are under your budget. Remember, too, that sometimes what you want simply doesn't fit within your budget. You will probably have to compromise on a few items here and there.
Your realtor definitely needs to understand your wishes, your budget and your must-need items, so bring along a list to share on that first meeting. If you are searching for Texas Hill Country real estate, consider contacting the team at Nixon Real Estate. They have been helping clients find fantastic homes in Fredericksburg, Kerrville, San Antonio and throughout Hill Country for more than 30 years.
We all want the perfect house, but it's usually best to really focus on the main elements you need out of a home. For example, maybe you are working at home and you need a highly functional and private office space. Perhaps you have several children and need an adequate number of bathrooms and bedrooms to accommodate these needs. Maybe you have some mobility issues and need a single story home. A big yard also could be a big priority if you have a family or pets that need to run and play.
Location also is important. You might want to be out in the country or you might need close access to specific schools or want to be near your workplace. You cannot move a house, so you really need to love the location of your new home.
You need to be realistic about superficial items. If you hate the paint colors in a house or it's filled with ugly wallpaper circa 1965, you must look beyond these decorative features. It is important to know what architectural and design features are easy to change. Painting walls is inexpensive and fairly easy, so never let ugly paint dissuade you from purchasing a house that otherwise truly suits your needs. Simply changing paint can make a huge impact. It's more important to have a house that is large enough with a good layout than to have a home with perfectly updated decor. Decor can be changed easily, while layout is much more difficult to fix and sometimes impossible.
Budgets are important, but you can be a little bit flexible in your search. It's usually safe to look at homes that are $10,000 or a bit more over budget, because often you can negotiate the price down a bit. Also, just because you are pre-approved for a certain amount doesn't mean that you are required to spend that much, and you can certainly look for homes that are under your budget. Remember, too, that sometimes what you want simply doesn't fit within your budget. You will probably have to compromise on a few items here and there.
Your realtor definitely needs to understand your wishes, your budget and your must-need items, so bring along a list to share on that first meeting. If you are searching for Texas Hill Country real estate, consider contacting the team at Nixon Real Estate. They have been helping clients find fantastic homes in Fredericksburg, Kerrville, San Antonio and throughout Hill Country for more than 30 years.
About the Author:
Pammy McGrath enjoys reading real estate blogs. If you are searching for licensed Fredericksburg TX real estate agents, or to find Fredericksburg TX homes for sale, please go to the Nixon Real Estate site today.
0 comments:
Post a Comment