Take your mortgage qualification to the next level and ask your mortgage broker for preapproval. The cost to have your mortgage pre-approved can be money well spent, as it means that you can make an offer quickly when you find a property that you’re interested in. It also lets potential buyers that you’re serious and can make them more willing to invest time in negotiating terms.

Next, start building your lists of requirements with one column for features that your new home must have, and one for optional features that you’d like to have but that aren’t required. List things like the number of bedrooms you require or the distance from your job or amenities in the must have column. Add optional items like the hot tub on the deck or the fenced in property to the second list. This ensures that when you do purchase a home it will have all of the things you need, and some of the things on your wish list.

Planning where to look can give your search more focus. If there are specific neighbourhoods that appeal to you, highlight them on a map. If you’re driving and notice a potential home that would interest you, make a note of the location with your smart phone and take a quick picture to make it easy to refresh your memory.

When you’re viewing a home, imagine that you were the one selling the home instead of buying it. This will help you to compare the attributes of different properties such as the distance from schools and amenities, age of the neighbourhood, or future development plans for the area.

Next imagine your family, your belongings, and your lifestyle in the home. What things are going to pose a challenge to the house feeling fully functional? Will things feel tight and cramped or spacious? Can you imagine a space for sports equipment, the gaming area, or enjoying peace and quiet? Buying a home is an important decision, and by taking the time to visualize what it would be like to live there, you can avoid feeling disappointed afterward.

While you can work on your own, choosing to hire your own real estate agent ensures that your best interests are being represented. The specialized training and qualifications of a real estate agent can help to navigate the transaction more smoothly and alert you to issues that you may not have thought to investigate.

While you can work on your own, choosing to hire your own real estate agent ensures that your best interests are being represented. The specialized training and qualifications of a real estate agent can help to navigate the transaction more smoothly and alert you to issues that you may not have thought to investigate.

As it gets closer to the closing date, make arrangements for a follow up appointment to walk through the house again to make sure that the things you’ve agreed upon are being upheld. For example you may have assumed all of the appliances were included but then notice that the deep freeze is no longer there, or perhaps things like blinds or fixtures have been removed.

Ask your real estate any and all questions that come to mind. After all, this is your first time purchasing a home and you should be able to do so with confidence. By working with Island Pacific Realty you can be assured that we are working hard to get you the best value for your home investment.