10 rookie home buyer mistakes to avoid

February 21, 2010 · Tagged with Real Estate 

7. Thinking you’ll get everything on your “wish list”

Another mistake people make is being too close-minded while searching for their home, says Boss. He suggests sitting down with your real estate broker before searching for a home and creating a need/want list. Some of the items you might want to include as “must haves” or deal breakers are the towns you’d want to live in, square footage, or accessibility to transportation. The second part of the list would be things you don’t necessarily need but wish to have, such as a garage, new kitchen appliances, or an extra room for an office. “As you search for your home, you may realize there are certain parameters you really want or don’t want,” says Boss. “Understand that a certain amount of flexibility is essential.” Your aim is to be able to afford everything you need–as well as some items you want–all while staying within a long-term budget.

8. Not keeping your feelings in check before hiring a home inspector

You’ve already chosen the perfect paint color to match your living room set. But hold on: Before you start picking out accent pillows for your sofa, you need to bring in a home inspector to check the safety of your potential new home. Inspectors will evaluate the structure, construction, and mechanical systems of the home and will give you the approximate price of repairs that may be needed. They will examine everything from the electrical system, water heater, and HVAC system to the foundation and floors.

Buyers should find and hire their own inspector–independent of the real estate broker–to ensure there isn’t a conflict of interest. When you make your offer, make sure the seller is aware that your offer is contingent on the house passing inspection. You can also add a clause to the contract stating that the seller will pay up to a certain amount for any repairs required as a result of the inspection.

9. Not researching your neighborhood

You may be living in your dream home, but your neighborhood’s a nightmare. Or you may have children or are planning to have children in the near future, but you didn’t consider the quality of the school districts or parks in the vicinity. You should ask yourself a number of questions during your home search, such as “Are there good schools nearby?” and “Do I feel safe coming home at night?”

Boss suggests that if schools are an important factor, you should go check them out personally. Speak with the principals or the parents waiting on the steps outside to pick up their kids. To learn more about the community, open up the local newspaper, Boss says. You can find out about community events or even how good the local high school football team is. Today’s buyers can gather all sorts of neighborhood information from real estate blogs and websites like Zillow and Trulia. (U.S. News has a partnership with Trulia.) “It is the responsibility of the buyer to check crime reports, school options, churches, and shopping,” says Boss. “Remember, you can change your house, but you can’t change the neighborhood.”

10. Not considering the resale value of your home

You’ve just started the home-buying process. The prospect of selling a home hasn’t even crossed your mind. Besides, you’re thinking you might live in whatever home you buy forever. Yet life is full of surprises, whether it is a job transfer or having another child or taking care of an incapacitated relative.

When the time comes to put your house on the market, will your home be easy or difficult to sell? While you’re on the hunt, it’s a good idea to account for preferences of the typical home buyer. Just because you love to landscape or enjoy a bright-pink backsplash doesn’t mean a prospective buyer will. “How we make our plans initially has a big impact on our ability to adjust those plans and to deal with whatever comes our way,” says Vanderwell.

Pages: 1 2 3