How to de-stress the home buying process!

January 12, 2017

By: Ari Taylor

We have all heard it before, “Buying a home is so stressful!” The home-buying process ranks as one of the top-five most stressful situations that we can face in a lifetime. Who can blame us for getting so stressed out over the process? After all, there are a lot of decisions that go into choosing the right home, and the eviction process is a lot easier for a bank than a landlord!

Following these nine tips will help to take at least some of the stress out of the process!

1. Start the process early!

2. Build a solid foundation by assembling a great team! Begin by finding a realtor that works in your area, knows your area well and whom you can trust. Next, select a mortgage broker, a lawyer and an inspector. These people will be there to guide you through the entire real estate process. Your lender can give you an idea of what you can afford and your realtor can point you in the right direction.

3. Make a list! I can not stress this point enough. Whether it’s just you or you and your spouse/family, you need a “Must-Have” list and a “Definitely-Not” list. Your lists should include things such as location, school system and type of house (condo, single family, multi-family). To do this, think of the following: “How far do I want to commute? Where do I see myself in two years? If I am planning on getting married or starting a family, I may want to rethink a that one-bedroom condo. What is really important to me? Do I need space for my family? What about the school district? What is my proximity to the city? Do I want or need a big yard? Do I want to be a landlord? Am I comfortable with having a shared outdoor space? What is it going to take to make my home the relaxing oasis outside of the everyday stressors that I am seeking?”

4. If you are buying with a spouse, compare your lists. One reason as to why home buying is so stressful is a result of one person falling in love with a house and the other saying, “No way! I don’t want to live in that city!” Or, “I need to have a big back yard!”  Discussing these things and having a set list before you start looking can really take a lot of that stress away.

5. Don’t get too excited… Yet! Yes, you’ve been approved and you have found a house that is perfect for you. You can see it now: Your friends are over, the little ones are running around during BBQs, you know exactly where you will hang that favorite painting and what color you will re-paint the walls and… before you know it, someone offered more than you did for your perfect house. Before you start posting photos of that house on Facebook, and before you start asking your friends if they know a good painter/mover/electrician/whomever… Sit tight. Remember, Facebook now reminds you about every memory you’ve posted about, and having that pop-up resurface every year will really stink! Get through the offer, inspection and purchase and sale before you get too excited about closing. Yes, I know that it’s hard to wait, but in the long run, it does make it easier on you overall. Try blogging about the experience, and when you close, start posting! You can harness that excitement without any major disappointment.

6. Don’t fall in love with just any Zillow property. They are not always what they appear to be.

7. Do not hesitate to ask questions! Keep on top of straightforward communication and be totally honest! Being honest with the other decision makers on your team (your realtor, your lender and especially yourself). This is going to help smooth out the process in a big way.

8. DO expect this process to take some time. I promise you, it will.

9. Try to avoid becoming too discouraged! Have faith in yourself and your team!

For more information on building the right team to get the job done, call today!