It might sound a little fantastic, but some of the best first time home buyer advice you can get is the information you get before you buy. The whole experience can be so daunting, you might even decide to go with the first house that fits into your price range but it’s best to avoid that pratfall. The most satisfied newbies report putting together a first time home buyer checklist that will help them keep their footing and not become overwhelmed after they start the search for what is the biggest investment of a lifetime.
You need to bring the big picture down to size and narrowing the scope of the project will help you to get the house that best fits your needs. Here’s a few points that will help this process along.
- You’ll need to know how much you have to shop with well before you start looking for listings and getting preapproved for a mortgage will batten down that hatch. What’s really important here is knowing the amount you get green lighted for isn’t always the amount you can afford when all is said and done. The number the bank gives you to work with is just a template—a ballpark area to start matching against listings.
- You’ll need to get a home inspection before you sign on the dotted line. Some of the flaws these inspectors might find could be relatively minor like eaves that need to be replaced. However, you’ll find yourself in quite a hole if the foundation leaks and you take possession before you know. A home inspection will find everything so you can decide whether you want to negotiate to have the issues fixed, get a better price, or move on.
A first time home buyer’s checklist is indispensable in helping you make the right decisions.
