Are you looking to move from your current home, but don’t know where to get started? Initiating the house hunting process is oftentimes the most difficult part. With so many things to consider, many people get overwhelmed and give up on finding a new property altogether. By properly organizing your approach, you boost your chances of finding and owning your next dream home.
Refine Your Wishlist
Creating a list of what you are looking for in your next place is essential in executing a successful search. The process of sitting down to develop the list forces you to analyze what you’re really looking for. Try to be critical, but don’t go overboard. There’s a difference between wants and needs for your next property. Wants are things that you can live without, but would simply make a nice addition to your dream home. Remember, just because a property doesn’t fulfill all of your wants, doesn’t mean that they can’t be added in the future.
Some things to consider for your wishlist include:
- neighbourhood
- number of bedrooms and bathrooms
- property type
- property age
- lot size
- square feet
- heating source
Do Your Research
Being prepared ensures that you don’t waste time getting your bearings at the start of your property search. Understand your local market by reading market reports and staying updated on the latest home prices. This way you ensure you’re paying a fair price for your future home and understand the best time to buy. You should also thoroughly research the area you’re looking to move to and gain knowledge on the various neighbourhoods.
Important things to look for include:
- proximity to schools
- community amenities
- general safety and security
- transportation links
Even though some of these factors may not be important to you personally, they are significant considerations for your home’s value when it’s time to sell. You should also use online listing resources to sort through homes for sale in the area that you’re interested in. In doing so, you’re not only relying on your realtor to present you with options, but you also stay updated on the latest listings.
Have Your Finances Arranged
Finances are pretty important considering that a house is the largest purchase most people will ever make. The last thing you want to happen is to lose out on your dream home because your finances aren’t in check. The easiest way to combat this is to get preapproved for a mortgage, especially if you’re a first-time home buyer. This reduces the amount of time it takes to get your mortgage, as the approval process is lengthy. In a competitive market, being pre-approved boosts the chances of your offer being accepted. Determine how much you can afford to spend on mortgage payments every month to prevent the disappointment of falling in love with a property that is beyond your means.
Prepare for Your Move
When you start your property search, you should prepare for the move from your previous home, as well. This includes sorting through your items and donating things you no longer need. This is important if you plan on selling your home, as removing personal clutter is essential to showing your house. When you secure your new home, start planning your move by hiring a professional moving company.
King’s Transfer is there for you every step of the moving process with local, long distance, and commercial moving services. Get your free quote today by calling 1-800-267-2957!