10 Tips: Buyers

1. Take the advice of your REALTOR®. Your REALTOR® has the expertise to help you make decisions that serve your best interests.

 

2. Get pre-approved for a mortgage. A pre-approved offer is attractive to sellers and will give you a competitive edge over buyers who don’t come with a lender’s guarantee.

 

3. Hire an accredited home inspector. Be there for the inspection, ask questions, and carefully consider the results before following through with your purchase.

 

4. Minimize contingencies. The fewer you have, the stronger your offer.

 

5. Make a wish list of features you want in your new home and use the list as a guide to rate each home you look at. Rating the homes from 1 -10 will help make your final decision easier.

 

6. Document your home viewings with a camera. Before you enter, take a close-up of the house number so you know where each photo series starts and ends. Later in your search, the photos will help you determine which homes are worth a second look.

 

7. Tune in to the home's surroundings. Are your neighbours’ homes well-maintained?  Do two-storey homes tower over and block sunlight from your single storey? Do you hear airplanes or trains? These are important factors that could affect your quality of living.

 

8. Consider the outside costs of owning a specific home. Pools can be expensive to maintain. Driveways might require the investment of snow removal equipment. Homes built with construction materials such as brick, stone or marble have lower maintenance costs.

 

9. Shop for mortgage rates and terms. Even half a percentage point can mean huge savings over the life of a loan.

 

10. When you find the perfect home, buy it. You know when it’s right and you don’t want to be mourning the one that got away.