It is not uncommon for first-time home buyers to feel that the home buying process starting with the decision to buy a home till the point they are in escrow happens really fast. Here's what 1st time home buyers can expect from their home shopping experience:
Benefits of Home Buying
If you have decided that you should buy a home, the major hurdle has passed. You have most likely already weighed the benefits and decided that home ownership was the best decision for you.
Home Search Parameter
In this new age of the Internet, almost 80% of all home searches begin online. With just a few clicks of the mouse, home buyers can search through hundreds of online listings, view virtual tours, and sort through dozens of photographs and aerial shots of neighborhoods and homes. You've probably defined your goals and have a pretty good idea of the type of home and neighborhood you want. By the time you reach your real estate agent's office, you are halfway to home ownership.
Finding What You Want?
A good real estate agent will listen to your requirements and needs and arrange to show only those homes that fit your particular parameters. Also, do not shop for a home the way you may shop for clothes or shoes! When you find the perfect home, buy it. Continue to look at more homes will only cloud your judgement and create more confusion.
Rating Home Inventory
It will be helpful to bring along a camera and capture a photograph of everything in the home. Begin each series of photos with a close-up of the house number to identify where each group of home photos start and end. It also helps to take notes of unusual features, design elements, inventory, and colors. The home's surroundings should play a major role in your decision. Is it near a park or a power plant? For future reference, irate each home on a scale of 1 to 10 right after leaving the home.
Review Shortlisted Homes Again
After touring homes for a few days, you'll probably come up with a shortlist of 2-3 homes. You should ask to see them again. This time around, you will see them with different eyes and notice elements that were overlooked the first time. At this point in time, your real estate agent should start calling the listing agents to find out more about the sellers' motivation and make sure these homes are still available to purchase.
Finally, you should be able to make a selection. Good luck!