Whether
you're looking for a Lexington home right now or plan to be on the hunt
some time this year, don't just stumble into a house hunt unprepared. While the
process is exciting, there might be a few things you want to make sure you have
on hand during the search so you can hunt for the home of your dreams smarter.
1. A
trusted friend
Even if
you're searching with an agent (like me), you might still want to enlist a
friend (preferably someone who's been through the home buying process before)
to get sage advice from. And if they know you, your personality and your style,
they might help you see clearly when you're being blinded by price or other
charming home elements.
2. Your
list of priorities and a checklist to run down
That
assembly of dream home elements that are floating around in your head? Write
them down as a list instead, organized by priority of what you and your family
need in a home. It'll help you stay focused when you run into neat design
elements in houses that while are great to look at, aren't what you need or
even necessarily want. Also consider taking a physical list with you of the
things you should look for when looking at homes — like the roof, plumbing,
neighborhood — in case you get excited and forget all about it when you see big
windows and real wood flooring.
3. A
notepad and pencil
You'll
want it with you to take notes and maybe even sketch floor plans. Don't trust
your memory after looking at lots of properties; you might mix them up. And
it'll be helpful to have when you do any second, third or more viewings.
4.
A camera
Yes, these
days real estate listings come with plenty of pretty photos to flip through,
but bring your own camera (or use your phone) to record the things that caught your eye —
from beautiful design elements to flaws that you want to remember. It'll be
helpful to take notes alongside the images so you have references to go back
through.
5. Comfortable,
easy-to-slip off shoes
House
hunting is physical work, and you'll want comfortable shoes you can walk all
over with. But since some open houses might require you to take your shoes off
before viewing the home, maybe leave those lace-up, knee-high boots at home so
you don't get frustrated every time you want to see the inside of a property.
6. Furniture measurements
and a tape measure
For those
with large or unusual furniture pieces they know they'll be moving with and those
looking at particularly tiny homes for sale, you might consider bringing a few
important furniture measurements to see how your style and furnishings might
fit into the homes you're looking to buy. This shouldn't be the reason you pass
on a great deal or location, but it could factor into the decision making
process.
Happy House Hunting Home Buyers in Lexington!
Source: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/first-time-homebuyer-6-essentials-to-take-with-you-on-a-house-hunt-213650?utm_content=buffere3f45&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
