So, you decided to buy a home. You get hooked up with a great buyer’s agent and start checking out some open houses. You think you found your dream home, but how do you know if it’s THE ONE? As a buyer’s agent in a highly competitive market, I’ve seen loads of shoppers miss out on homes because they didn’t act quickly enough. Here’s when you should call your agent to start drafting an offer…
- Does it check the boxes? Keep in mind that there is NO SUCH THING as a perfect house. Prioritize your needs and make sure the home satisfies the most important ones. Sometimes the best house for you is in a neighborhood you didn’t expect. Or perhaps the open-concept great room makes up for the fact that there’s no pool. If the home meets your essential requirements, it’s probably the right one for you. Plus, you will make it your own when you move in.
- Change is good! If you are worried that moving will affect your lifestyle, well, you are right! Moving is a huge life change, especially if you have a family. Think about your current lifestyle and how living in this new home will affect that. Go about your normal day and imagine life in your new home. Will that extra bathroom make the morning routine easier? Will the new location shorten your commute? Does it put your kids in a better school district? Do the monthly payments fit into your budget? If this change is something you can handle, then what are you waiting for!?
- Trust your gut. Did you get those butterflies when you walked into the house for the first time? Would you be heartbroken if you lost the house to someone else? My recommendation is to sleep on it overnight. Your instincts aren’t always the most logical, but they are often right.
