Monday, 5 May 2014

Before You Buy, Tell Your Realtor These Four Things

By Pammy McGrath


If it is time for your family to start looking for a new home to buy, you definitely will want to look for an experienced, competent real estate agent. Your agent not only helps find suitable houses, this professional can help you deal with all the steps included in purchasing a home. This includes recommending experienced inspectors and helping you understand local laws and regulations, as well as explaining different parts of the escrow process. While that first meeting with your realtor is important, it is also important that you complete a few tasks prior to this first appointment.

It's always wise to meet with a lender and get loan pre-approval prior to beginning a home search. The lender will look over your finances and determine the amount of money that the lending company is willing to provide to you. This amount plus your down payment is typically the highest amount that you can afford comfortably. However, even if you are pre-approved for $300,000 and have an addition $30,000 for the down payment, you might still want to spend less. Be sure to tell your realtor what you are pre-approved for and, more importantly, what you are comfortable spending.

Once you have set a budget and shared that with your realtor, you need to provide the agent with a list of features that you want in your home. Be sure to include everything you want such as the number of bedrooms, the number of bathrooms, the size of the yard and the size of the garage. Perhaps you also want walk-in closets and a finished basement or a kitchen updated with granite and stainless steel. Maybe you would prefer a single-story home or maybe you love the look of a home with a brick faade. The more information you can provide, the easier it will be for your realtor to truly understand your needs.

Keep in mind that it is doubtful that you could ever find a home that fulfills everything on your wish list. You must be willing to compromise here and there. It's always wise to consider the location and the "bones" of any home and look beyond the cosmetic elements. You cannot move the home, so you better like the location and the size and layout of the yard. Sometimes you can alter or enlarge the interior of your home, but these are expensive changes that take a long time. So if the layout seems good and the location is great, try to look past the ugly paint on the bedroom walls and horrible chandelier in the dining room as these can be fixed easily.

Also be sure to provide your realtor a list of items that you don't like. This might include highly important elements such as not being located on a busy road or perhaps looking at homes in a specific neighborhood that you don't like. If you hate contemporary homes or despise split-level home layouts, tell your realtor so that she skips these styles. Many people do not have the budget or time to handle many home projects, so be sure to be clear if you don't want a true fixer-upper. Sharing your likes and dislikes provides your realtor with a clearer picture of what you want.

With nearly four decades of experience, the realtors at Nixon Real Estate can help you find the perfect property for your budget and needs. They can find Fredericksburg real estate, San Antonio real estate, Kerrville real estate and any type of real estate in Texas Hill Country. Whether you need a single family home, a commercial property or a large piece of land, contact Nixon Real Estate today and get started on your search.




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