Homebuyers Should Avoid These Common Mistakes

Based upon our conversation, here some key observations from a Tallahassee real estate office and it’s agents regarding mistakes being made by homebuyers:

1. Creating A Budget – One of the more confusing aspects of buying a home is the loan qualification process. Loan programs vary, so how much home you can buy under each program varies as well. But I think there is a bigger point at stake here. Why is a bank telling you how much to spend on your home? Shouldn’t your family budget determine what you are willing to spend? I recommend families look at their income and expenses and then determine a comfortable range of monthly expenses. I suspect if more people had done this in the past, the crazy loan programs and the chaos that ensued might not have been so bad.
2. Determining A “Haves” and “Wants” list – Much like the issue of budget, we often times see buyers become “fatigued” with the home selection process. The easiest way to avoid this is to create a list of what the next home “must have,” as well as a list of features that you “want” it to have.  Since there is no such thing as a perfect home, knowing the difference between your “haves” and “wants” will make the selection process that much easier.
3. Recognizing Value – Often times, buyers will let the condition of a property disproportionately affect their valuation of a property. Many times we see a buyer select a home in great shape over a home that, with a few cosmetic improvements, would be far more valuable for the money. Remember, carpet, painting, and minor repairs can be accomplished prior to closing, so don’t let the conditions of these items affect your personal valuation of a property.
4. Self Educating – We have so much information available on our website, there is no reason that a buyer needs to go through this process as if they were picking up a bag of fruit at the grocery. Understanding all of opportunities that are available for a homebuyer, such as warranties and even cashback at closing, will help buyers get the best possible deal available when they buy a home.
5. Learning From Others – When you meet with your agent at our real estate office, take the time to ask questions and listen to what we have learned from the homebuyers who came before you. Remember, experience matters!

So, don’t be the homebuyer who jumps in without a good sound plan. Taking the time to work with a great real estate company and working a plan could end up saving you thousands of dollars!

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