What Not to Do When Looking for a Home

Everyone is quick to tell you what you must do when shopping for that new home. But here are a few things you shouldn’t do.

1. Search for properties and set up showings without your real estate agent. You are in a partnership in this hunt, and your agent probably didn’t send you that listing because the property didn’t meet one of your search criteria. But, if it is a new listing, check with your agent and he or she can find out why it didn’t get flagged as a house to consider. If you still wish to see it, he or she can show it to you.
2. Make plans to be somewhere soon after your showing time.This is not a time to feel rushed. What if you really like it? What if you need to place an offer right afterward in order to secure it?
3. Wear lace-up shoes.Honestly, slip-ons, flip flops, etc. are ideal. Many well-prepared homes will have new carpet, and often the seller’s agent will ask for shoes to be removed at the door.
4. Forget to open doors and examine closets and cabinets. You can miss a whole room if you are not careful, and it is important to fully see the size of each closet and storage space.
5. Think that you can get away with a low-ball offer because you dislike some aspects of the property. The asking price takes into account that the view is of the neighbor’s yard, the driveway is gravel, and the deck is old and needs to be replaced.
6. Hold back how you feel about a property when you don’t like it. You will not hurt your real estate agent’s feelings – it is not their home. Being open and honest about everything that you disliked will let your agent have a better idea of what you are looking for.
7. Expect each home to have everything you want. Know the market and realize you may have more expensive tastes than your budget will allow. This is not the fault of the sellers or your real estate agent. A home’s fair market value is based on current market conditions.
8. Use the bathroom without permission. Some sellers really do not want strangers using their bathroom. It is best to try and make a restroom pit stop before you get to a property.
9. Make instant judgements. We all get an instant impression when we see a home the first time, but take the time to really see it before you judge it.
10. Wait and mull it over for a few days before you make an offer. In the current market, homes are selling fast, so waiting a few days may cost you that house.

Knowing what you shouldn’t do is almost as important as knowing what you should. Remember these pointers, and work with a real estate agent that understands exactly what your needs are in a new home.