Don't Daydream About a New House, Search Daily
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 EricTyson 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!
