If only shopping for
houses were as easy as shopping for housewares, house plants,
or a house coat. You could head down to the big house store at
the mall, window shop, perhaps try a house or two on ... and
then pay for it at the cashier's desk.
However, as the most important purchase you'll ever make,
buying a house should take a little more effort and
concentration. In fact, when you're looking for the perfect
home, you should think about it every day. Consider the
following routine:
Sunday is open season for house hunting. Go to open houses.
Your Sunday paper is chock full of real estate listings and
invitations to open houses. Even though a low percentage of
houses sell through the classifieds, it's a great place to
look to get an idea of what's available in your market. In
that vein, open houses are also a great way for you to take a
gander at several different houses and see what kind of
amenities you might want in your home. And the best thing
about open houses? Refreshments!
Monday is money day. Buying a home is a big financial
responsibility. Don't make it a big financial strain by making
it a big drain on your budget. Take time at the beginning of
each week to make a specific seven-day budget. And stick to
it! Be as frugal as you have to be. Any money left over should
go into a special savings account for a down payment.
Tuesday is Internet day. Rather than getting stressed about
finding the perfect house, get wired instead. You've been to
some open houses in person, now go to some virtual open
houses. Using your favorite search engine, you can quickly and
anonymously view entire neighborhoods of houses for sale. Real
estate agents, for example, often highlight a few homes for
sale on their Web pages. (Check out www.bradshomes.com.) There
are also other interactive Web sites that let you browse and
search real estate listings according to your own parameters
and preferences. For example, do you want a three-bedroom
house within 20 miles of Portsmouth, with more than two acres,
and a fireplace? Key it in and see what comes up. These Web
sites use national and local databases to help you find a
house with the features you want and need. A bit of a warning,
however: some online listings may be dated - or keyed in
incorrectly.
Wednesday is words day. Learn as much as you can about home
buying. Go to the library or bookstore and read all about it.
For example, "Home Buying for Dummies," by Eric
Tyson and Ray Brown is a comprehensive home-buying guide that
explains such matters as how to select a mortgage, save for a
down payment, hire a real estate agent, find the right house,
and negotiate a good deal. You may also want to check out the
do-it-yourself section and read up on home repair and
remodeling. Such information can come in handy once you own a
home. It may also give you the confidence to shop for a
bargain fixer-upper.
Thursday is another search day. Now that you've seen a few
homes online, have your real estate agent schedule a few
showings so you can look at some houses in person. Looking at
homes in the evening will give you an idea of how the house
looks and feels when it's not in its best light - that is,
daylight. If you can't get a showing, drive around the
neighborhoods and determine which one feels best for you.
Friday is another frugal day. Rather than going out to eat,
save some money, have a nice dinner at home, and discuss your
dream kitchen.
Saturday the quest continues. Weekends are usually the best
for looking at several houses ... one after the other. Look at
as many houses as you think your feet and your agent can
handle. Create a scorecard and rate each house you see. Pay
careful attention to the amenities you need and the ones you
want. It's often said that agents don't sell houses; houses
sell themselves. That's because homes have personalities and
somewhere out there is a home that fits your personality best.
When you see it, you'll feel it. But first you have to see it.
So be patient, be diligent, be knowledgeable, and search every
day until you find it!
