What to look for when buying a house- Nailing the house hunt
As a real estate agent, when a first time buyer is looking for their next home, I often spend time with them and help set the stage. I want them to know exactly what to expect during the house hunting stage.
During a home search, we only have about 15-20 minutes at each property, which makes it important that we thoroughly and efficiently evaluate things - this way, there's no wasted effort or drive back and forth from different houses!
So I'm going to give you two easy parameters to understand the value of a home during your home search.
First: how does a place look to you?
Do you love the kitchen? Do you love the stain on the floors? I see perfect finishes as nice to haves. Fortunately, when it comes to the finishes in your home, it's easy to change things up if you're unhappy with how they look.
A fresh coat of paint can make a big difference, and new flooring or fixtures can also change the feel of a room.
However, it's important to keep in mind that these changes are only superficial. The underlying structure of your home is much more difficult and costly to change.
Second: is it functional?
The staging, the light fixtures, and the colors of the walls are things we could always change down the road.
But is raw space usable to you and your family and possibly to grow into?
If you buy a place with two tiny bedrooms and think in the future, you'll need one of those bedrooms to be larger. That's a hard thing to change.
Picture yourself two years down the line waking up for work. Are you getting the natural sunlight that you always talk about? Is the square footage appropriate? The most important part is the functionality of a space and how you would use it and make it your own.
If you think you can make that space your own, try to wipe away all the colors and finishes popping out at you. I really think that most buyers get distracted by the superficial aspects of houses. Instead, focus on how the space in the home will serve your lifestyle years down the road.
