Buying a home can be an exciting milestone in your life, particularly if it’s your first one. However, there are some things you need to watch out for during the process to ensure you get the best deal and most suitable property out there for you.

Hire A Real Estate Agent 

Buying a house can be intimidating and there are a lot of moving parts to keep track of. That’s why you should never go into it alone. Working with a real estate agent will take a lot of work off your shoulders. Below is a list of some of the things that real estate agents can help you with:

• Narrowing down properties that fit within your budget and requirements and accompany you to viewings and showings
• Advising you on the best offer to put down and submitting it on your behalf
• Negotiating with the seller and their agent to get you the best possible offer
• Handling every aspect of the closing process, ensuring there are no loose ends
• Most importantly, being your advocate for everything in the real estate transaction

Ensure You Are Financially Ready

Few homebuyers can afford to own a house outright. That means you need to ensure you are in a financial position to make monthly repayments on your mortgage. Besides being in a stable financial position, this means finding out your options by talking to a mortgage professional. They will help you determine the mortgage value you can afford, allowing you to search for properties within your budget so that you don’t set your sights on a house you cannot afford. 

• When buying a house, below are some top financial tips to keep in mind:
• Maintain a good credit score.
• Save up for a down payment in advance.
• Get pre-approved.
• Understand your loan options and decide which is most suitable for your needs.

List Your Must-Haves, Dealbreakers, and Negotiables 

You will want to pay careful attention to the kind of house you buy. After all, it’s going to be your home or property. For instance, consider the number of bedrooms that are needed and the proper number of bathrooms as the two biggest must-haves. After that, consider lot size, location, square footage, and garage bays. Things you can take or leave are paint color, flooring type, kitchen/bathroom amenities, and available garden space. These are items you can add or change after you own the home. Speak to your real estate agent about these must-haves and negotiables so they know what to search for. Know what you want, but be realistic and expect to make some concessions.

Request an Inspection

When you have found a house you are keen to put down an offer on, the next step is to request an inspection. During this process, the inspector will check every aspect of the house, such as the HVAC systems, plumbing, roof, foundation, and more. You can use the results of this inspection to bring down the selling price or ask for concessions from the seller. Not getting an inspection done is the biggest mistake you can make, as you may end up having to bear out-of-pocket costs—on top of the price of the house—to fix any damage you hadn’t been made aware of. It has become common in the current real estate market to waive the inspection contingency to make your offer stronger and close faster. However, you leave yourself open to buying a home in “as-is” condition when that doesn’t need to happen.