The Right Preparation and Prequalification Process Minimizes Most of the Stress, Frustration and ‘Buyer’s Remorse’
Most people underestimate the process until you're knee-deep in it!Major decisions like buying and selling a home are a combination of emotions and logic. Emotions gets you dreaming and excited about the prospect of your next home. Logic balances and offsets relying just on emotions, which can get you in trouble. Everyone wants to make the best buying decision.
Buying your next home requires evaluating a large number of factors and decisions. Confusion can make the process agonizing to a point where you'd take a vow, you’d never do that again.
Step #1. The Preparation Planning
- Location – what county? distance to work? Distance to friends & family.- School system?- Cosmetics before you buy- Cosmetics you’d need to change- Bedrooms for today and if you family expands. Accommodate aging parents.- Home office space for work-from-home.- Stairs- Laundry room location.- Which way does the house face? Sun/shade- Neighborhood noise – traffic pattern noise?- Potential major repairs – HVAC – Roof – Water management – Windows – Plumbing - Number of things I’d have to change or upgrade- Price range- Wall and flooring condition – is it just cosmetic or does it require repair? Noisy spots in the floor.- Garage space – does it have water and drain?- Storage – inside the house, kitchen, basement, attic space, garage, out building- Laundry room convenient?- Entry way – place for coats, mud room- Fenced in backyard – what’s the privacy like?- Tree upkeep – leaves in the Fall- Pool/no pool- Condition of the deck- Underground sprinkling?- Condition of landscaping? Is it time to pull up and start over?
Step #2. Prepared to Take Action
● Got Your Ducks in A Row ● Let’s Start the Shopping Process online ● Search Zillow.com to begin prequalifying and 'zero' in on what you really want.
Step #3. The New Home 'Showing'
Steps to take to avoid focusing on the ‘shiny’ stuff that attracted you to the home and critically see the home for what it is and what it’s not. This will help minimize frustrations and the potential for ‘buyers’ remorse’ emotions. It’s easy to miss things when you don’t go in 'armed' with you Step #1 Checklist.
● Check the heating and cooling system – comfort is one of the most important things about a house. Unfortunately, you don’t get to try it out in the heating or cooling season. You are making notes and inspecting where the potential problems you might be dealing with if you decide to purchase.
● Are there any potential water issues? Look for the signs. Gutters that move water away. Roof valleys. Concrete that slopes back to the foundation.
● Test all faucets and toilets
● Cosmetics – can you overcome it with paint or wall covering. Does flooring need to be replaced?
● Remember you’re an imperfect home and if you’re selling yours, it’s imperfect. What can you live with? If you find something, you can’t live with and can’t change it’s probably not the right home for you.
Step #4. The Financial Approval Process to the 'Greenlight'
The 'Dreaded' Loan Cost Worksheet with 52-line items to interpret. There’s plenty of details and line items. What to watch out for and pitfalls to avoid. Hopefully eliminate any surprises.
Step #5. Making The Offer
Step #6. Getting the I’s Dotted and T’s Crossed
● The loan application process. Who’s in charge? What is underwriting?● Between the mortgage preapproval and the mortgage approval (underwriting) avoid at all costs anything that changes the picture. Don’t change jobs or do something that involves a credit check.● Other potential pitfalls you may not be able to control.