Whether it’s your first or your fifth, buying a home is a very exciting time in your life. Perhaps it means that you are ready to settle down and start a career and family. Or maybe you are downsizing because your kids are now in college and you and your spouse want something with less upkeep so you can enjoy travel and leisure time. Whatever the reason, this should be a fun time and not full of the stress that so often comes with the home-buying process. The key to having a low-stress home-buying process is proper planning and working with the right professionals.
“It is a great time to buy a home!” says with Woods Bros. Realty. “Interest rates are at the lowest ever and home prices are steady in Lincoln. There is a good inventory of homes on the market and a more balanced number of buyers and sellers make for some fast sales and good competition among sellers to prepare their homes for sale.”
“While the rest of the country was really getting hit hard the last few years, Lincoln has done pretty well,” explains Teresa Predmore with Woods Bros. Realty. “Now the market has really come back strong and we currently have the least number of listings of homes for sale than we have in years. This makes competitio
n good, but also means that if you find a home you love, you should be ready to put in an offer immediately.”
“We’ve gotten through some times where buyers were reluctant to move,” adds Deb Wagner with Woods Bros. Realty. “It’s an unbelievable time now with interest rates so low and a great time to make that change!”
Working with a Realtor
The importance of working with a real estate agent just cannot be stressed enough when it comes to buying a home. You are the expert at what you do, whether that is selling insurance, running a hotel or working on cars. What you are not an expert in is real estate, so why would you NOT work with someone who is?
“When someone makes the decision to buy a new home, there are two things they should do first: get pre-approved with a local lender and interview local real estate agents to help guide them through the process,” states Jason Korn with RE/MAX Real Estate Concepts. “A real estate agent can provide you with a needs analysis to help you determine which search criteria for your home is most important to you.”
“The most important decision you’ll make in real estate is choosing a real estate agent,” says Sandra Larsen with BancWise Realty. “I strongly recommend buyers have representation working on their behalf and keeping their best interest in mind. Information is key and your agent should have you in mind every day and stay on top of what is available on the market that may work for you. Once you find the perfect place, your agent is experienced at negotiating the best price and terms on your behalf. I provide caring and competent representation to buyers. It’s one of my favorite aspects of my business. The majority of properties are listed with an agent and the seller’s agent and their company are representing the best interest of the seller. A buyer’s agent can show you any available property while the commission to the buyer is $0.00. A buyer can be at a disadvantage without their own representation.”
“A real estate agent can set you up to get the most up-to-date information on new listings and all listings in general by setting the buyer up on a MLS search which will automatically notify buyers of any homes that match their search criteria the moment the home hits the market,” adds Jason Korn. “They can help the buyer through the home selection process by providing objective information for each property such as the zoning, schools, amenities, neighborhood values, etc. A real estate agent will also help you through the entire process of purchas
ing a home. The home search, determining the value of a home, the negotiation process, the inspection period, the closing process and the post-closing process. They can then provide you with a list of trusted vendors that you
may need during and after the home buying process such as title company, home inspectors, pest inspectors, lenders and other contractors.”
Choosing the right agent for your needs is key to the success of your home-buying process. “We are not all the same and that is a good thing!” explains Sandy Wacker with Woods Bros. Realty. “Pick a realtor that is a professional—they will show interest in your needs for a home and act on them. They answer your questions in a timely manner and have your best interests in mind as they work on your behalf. The best realtor for you is the one you feel most comfortable with. Yes, personality matters as you will spend a lot of time together during the process.”
“As with any interview process, speak to several agents,” suggests Sandra Larsen with BancWise. “You are looking for someone with experience, knowledge of the Lincoln market and negotiating skills. A change in your real estate needs means something big is going on in your life. A good agent will help minimize stress. You need an advocate in your corner who understands you and your needs and will be an advisor to you every step of the way. Hiring a real estate agent who buys and sells every day is key. Interview several agents. Your agent should give you a clear understanding of what your property will likely bring in today’s market, let you know in advance what your potential costs will be and help you understand the process from listing, going under contract, closing on to purchasing your next home. There are a myriad of situations that can throw a transaction off-track so you need someone who is a creative problem solver and can walk through the process with you and keep it on track. I provide options for sellers to minimize those costs, minimize stress and yet give full service and a great result.”
Jason Korn adds, “Obviously you want an agent who has experience in working with home buyers and all the situations that can arise during the home-buying process. In my opinion, though, it is just as important to work with someone you feel comfortable with. That is why it is important to interview more than one agent before selecting the one you’d like to work with. Get to know them and how they work and then decide which is the best fit for you.”
If you’re looking for a residential property, you probably don’t have to worry about choosing one that specializes in any type of property, but if you’re looking for an acreage or farm land, this should be a consideration. “Many realtors are not knowledgeable about acreages and won’t be able to answer questions or help you as much as they should be able to,” states Teresa Predmore with Woods Bros. Realty. “We specialize in land, farms and acreages and are familiar with everything that comes along with them, such as septic systems, lagoons and other details tha
t are unique to these types of property.”
Working with a Realtor when you have a home to sell is equally important (if not moreso) than working with one as you look to buy. Although it may be tempting to try putting your home up For Sale by Owner to avoid paying a percentage to a Realtor, you’ll probably find that you lose much more time and money by doing this rather just hiring a Realtor upfront. Many potential home-buyers won’t even look at For Sale by Owner homes because they don’t want to deal with the hassle and because they feel uncomfortable looking at a person’s home who has an emotional attachment to it. They may feel nervous about asking questions, pointing out potential problems or trying to negotiate and would rather just have the two Realtors deal with it.
Buying Vs. Remodeling
If your home is no longer working for your needs, you may think that it’s a good idea to do a major remodel rather than buy a new home. Here are some situations that buying might be a better idea than remodeling:
Your home is too small If your family has grown and you simply don’t have enough room, you are probably better off
upgrading to a larger one. Adding on to an existing home is a huge project and may not even be possible depending on how much land you have.
You are not attached to your neighborhood Some people love their neighbors, nearby stores, parks and other amenities their neighborhood offers while for others this is not the case. If your neighborhood isn’t that big of deal to you (or you actually want to get OUT of that neighborhood), moving could be the better option.
You are ready for an upgrade Have you lived in your current home ten or more years? Have you and your spouse gone from being poor college students or new employees to more established professionals? If this is the case, upgrading to a newer, larger home was probably the plan from the beginning and it may be time to put that plan into action.
A remodel is not cost effective Even if you have reasons for wanting to stay in your current home (such as liking the neighborhood or not wanting the hassle of moving), if the changes that need to be made to make your current home work for your needs are going to cost more than it would cost to upgrade, it might not be a good idea. The extensive remodel is likely to be an inconvenience for your family and, if you make that many improvements, it may make your home difficult to sell when you finally are ready because you will need to price it much higher than other homes in the neighborhood.
What to Look For in a New Home
It’s easy to just go start looking at homes and get caught up in all the wonderful options that are out there. However,
you might be wasting your time and running the risk of getting attached to a home that doesn’t really fit your needs or that you can’t afford if you don’t set out some guidelines before you begin looking. Here are a few ideas:
Know your price range There’s nothing worse than finding the home of your dreams and then realizing you can’t afford it. Although it may be fun to look at homes way out of your price range, you should know what you can afford and only focus on those so you aren’t comparing them to those out of your budget. “Plan for your purchase,” advises Sandy Wacker with Woods Bros. “This includes visiting with a lender and pinpointing your comfort zone for a monthly mortgage payment. Wait to buy if saving for a higher down payment will be an advantage in the long term and evaluate your house needs for 10 plus years in the future so you are not forced to move too soon. You can then attend open houses and review homes online in the price you want to be in so you are familiar with amenities you may expect.”
Know your geography Do you know where you want to live? Perhaps you want to stay in the same school district where you
r kids currently attend or you want to stay near friends or family. Knowing where you want to live helps you develop a list of homes you want to look at in certain neighborhoods. If you are moving to a new town, you should spend some time in the areas you are considering. Talk to some of the people who live there. Try out some of the nearby restaurants. Shop at the closest supermarket. If you aren’t familiar with a neighborhood, you might be unpleasantly surprised if you buy a house and begin living there. This is also the time when a real estate agent comes in very handy. They have likely had experience with nearly every neighborhood in town and can help you choose one that will be best for your needs and lifestyle.
Situation factors Beyond location, look at the particular site of the home. If the home is on a hill does it have a view, a walkout basement, or lots of stairs to climb? Do neighbors’ windows look directly into the home? Is the yard suitable for kids, pets, gardening, or other uses? Is access to the property safe regarding driveway elevation, stairs up to
(or down to) the front door?
Visit at various times of day The windows that let in so much light during the day may be a peeping Tom’s dream at night. That seemingly quiet residential street may be a noisy, highway-feeder street during morning or evening rush hour; or it may be near impossible to get from your quiet street across traffic and onto the feeder street in the morning. The adjacent school may seem like a nice perk if you’re buying in the summer, but during the school year, daily playground noise and extra traffic may be more than you bargained for.
Know the condition of the home Although it may not be possible to know everything that could potentially go wrong with a home, you can get a pretty good idea of what condition it is in and how much work it will need. Having a home inspection gives you more information to consider when making a decision on a piece of property. “Inspections give you a snapshot in time of the age and condition of the property,” explains Randy King with King’s Inspections. “It gives you an estimated timeline on when to plan on replacing components such as a furnace or roof or water heater.”
“The most common inspection is a ‘whole house’ inspection,” continues Randy, “which is a comprehensive look at all the systems in a home including electrical, plumbing, sewer, HVAC, interior, exterior, grounds, landscaping and roofing. Termite inspections and radon inspections are also available and commonly ordered. More specialized inspections, such as mold, videoing a sewer line, invasive techniques or extensive inspections are available from companies specializing in these areas. Remember that a home inspection is a snapshot in time. It is not a warranty or a guarantee,
nor is it an in-depth, invasive analysis of the home. The inspector has no control over what happens after they leave a property, nor do they have a crystal ball. They cannot foresee a termite infestation, a settling foundation, a water heater or air conditioner failure that may occur after the buyer takes possession. Home warranties are available to purchase and they are a good investment. Remember, you are buying a used house with used equipment and it won’t necessarily perform or last like a new one.”
When choosing a home inspector, look at qualifications, accreditations, terms of service, etc. Look for inspectors with several years in the business and affiliated with a national organization such as the American Society of Home Inspectors or International Association of Certified Home Inspectors.
Windows and Lighting Do you love a bright sunny room or do you love privacy? Look at a home with light and sunshine in mind. Look at the locations of electrical outlets and fixtures. Will they accommodate your lighting needs? Is there recessed lighting in the kitchen, cove lighting in the family room and a lovely chandelier in the dining room? If not, you can add them later, but it’s nice to have it in place when you move in.
Think about the future The needs you have for a home now are not necessarily the needs you will have five years from now. When buying a home, most people are planning to stay in it for ten years or more, so it’s important to think of how your life might change during that time. Are you just beginning your family and might need to consider extra bedrooms for future children? Are your children older and will be moving out of the house soon? If so, could some of the bedrooms be converted into an office, exercise room or serve another purpose? Are you and your spouse getting older or have health problems that make navigating stairs or outdoor steps difficult? Although no one can know the future, there are some things you can plan for so that your new home will hopefully continue to serve your needs for years to come.
What is most important to you and your family? Just because a certain feature is important to others doesn’t mean it is to you. For example, everyone talks about the kitchen being the heart of a home and how important it is to have an updated, open kitchen where everyone can gather. However, your family might be one of those who is always on the go and never really cooks or eats at home and spends most of their time in the family room or outdoors. If this is the case, it would be a waste to buy a home with a huge, state-of-the-art kitchen and you’d be better off looking for one that had more of a focus on a beautiful deck and large family area.
Estimate remodeling or restoring costs Some people are interesting in buying homes that need work, or ‘fixer-uppers’. Perhaps they want to remodel them and then sell them, or they just like to put the work in themselves to make their home exactly as they want it. If you fall into this category, you should have a good idea of what the cost is going to be to get the home to the condition you want it before buying it. Jody Strauch with Out of the Box says, “If you have a clear idea of how much the remodel will cost, then try to include these costs into the loan. If you stop by our store, you are able to select items that are unique, high-end reclaimed home improvement products that will greatly enhance the value of your home. Buying reclaimed products from a store such as ours gives you the ability to customize the home without spending excessive amounts of money. One of the most important features of the home is to have an updated kitchen, and this can be easily accomplished by purchasing a custom designer re
claimed kitchen cabinet from us.”
Don’t expect it to be perfect Unless you are building, it’s very unlikely that you will find a home that matches every single one of your needs and wants. It’s important to look at the bigger picture and find a home that matches most of your needs and has a few minor issues that you can change or remodel once you move in. For example, you would be much better off choosing a home in the area of town that you want that has a bathroom you don’t like than a perfect home on the wrong side of town. You can always remodel a bathroom, but you can’t move the house across town! You may even want to bring your contractor in with you to look at a home if you know there are large changes you’d like to make so he can give you a ballpark estimate on how much it would cost and the time involved.
Financing Your New Home
One of the most critical parts of the home-buying process is the financing. Before you even begin thinking about buying a home, you should begin saving money. “Cash in savings can be a powerful took when purchasing a home,” says Wayne Kreikemeier with Nebraska Bank of Commerce. “That cash for a down payment can potentially offer you choices between loan products or programs and when you have choices, you win.”
“Buyers today need to be prepared,” says Deb Wagner with Woods Bros. Realty. “A buyer truly needs to know their buying power and make sure they don’t have any credit issues that need to be addressed. Houses are selling and many are going fairly quickly. The inventory is down and buyers don’t have the luxury of all the choices they have had over the previous 2-3 years. It would be greatly disappointing to put in an offer only to find that you have issues to address and someone else who had their ducks in a row steps in and buys your dream home out from under you.”
Meeting with a lender before you even begin looking at homes is the next step. “Get pre-approved,” advises Jane Stentz with Union Bank & Trust. “Realtors and sellers will be more at ease and willing to negotiate if they know you have your financing already approved. Look for a lender that offers free pre-approvals to let you know how much house you can afford and how much down payment you will need. This will give you security and confidence when making an offer. Homebuyers should also be sure to notify their banker immediately upon securing a purchase agreement so the loan process can get started right away and a rate lock can be discussed.”
Luke Mitchell with Cornhusker Bank says, “High volume and increased compliance requirements have led to a slower process that may take longer than you think. Be sure to talk to your mortgage professional well in advance to make sure you will be qualified in time if you find a home. Talking to them early will also give you the opportunity to gather additional paperwork or take care of any unexpected issues.”
“Some buyers know they will qualify for a loan based on past experience, but may not know some of the new rules in which mortgage lending is done,” points out Wayne Kreikemeier. “That’s why it’s important for everyone to meet with a mortgage professional first thing. Other buys may not be quite so sure of themselves and those buyers need to find a lender who will sit with them and explain the process and options available today. When you come in to meet with your lender, you will present your overall situation and it’s the lender’s job to help explain the options available and guide you into what makes the most financial sense. A lender can only qualify a customer for the best loan if they’re asking probing questions while gathering the customer’s information.”
“We offer a number of loans for homes,” Jane Stentz adds. “We have fixed and adjustable rate conventional and jumbo loans, FHA loans, VA loans, RD loans, first-time homebuyer (NIFA) loans, bridge loans, cash-to-close loans, construction loans and lot loans.”
Both agree that communication is key. “Don’t be afraid to tell your banker how you prefer to be communicated with (by telephone, text, em
ail, etc.),” says Jane, “and how often you expect updates on the status of your loan. In today’s complex underwriting environment, active and clear communication between banker and customer is even more important than ever before.”
“Don’t wait to ask your questions,” Wayne says. “Whether you’re considering a new home or just looking to refinance, today’s low interest rates may afford you the opportunity to change your financial life in a positive way.”
Another important aspect of the qualifying process is your credit score. “Make sure your credit score is optimal,” Luke Mitchell with Cornhusker Bank advises. “Your credit score is a significant factor that will determine the interest rate on your home loan. It is important to pay all your bills on time, keep your balance less than 30% of the credit limit on revolving accounts and limit applications for new credit. It is also important to keep all of your financial records so you can provide them to your lender if requested.”
Working with a Title Company
Most buyers don’t have a lot of knowledge when it comes to title companies. They let their Realtor or mortgage company choose the title company for them and don’t really think about it again. While it’s important to listen to the advice of your Realtor and mortgage lender as they clearly have knowledge in this area, it’s also important to realize that you ALWAYS have the option to choose the title company you want to work with. If you know someone at a title company, have a relationship with a title company you’ve used in the past or have another connection that makes you more comfortable with one company over another, make sure you make this clear to both your Realtor and your mortgage company.
Selling Your Current Home
One of the most stressful parts of buying a new home is often selling your current home. It can be a balancing act trying to time when to put in an offer for the home you want while not being sure if you will be paying on your current mortgage for months into the future. It can also be difficult to know how much of a down payment you will be able to put on a new home when you are not yet sure how much equity you will be receiving from the sale of your current home. Working with a real estate agent who can help you with both the buying and selling process is the best decision you can make, but you can also do some work before you put your home on the market to ensure it will be competitive and attract the attention of potential buyers. Here are a few things you can do:
Clean your carpets “Odors from cooking, pets, smoking and more can all be trapped in your carpet fibers,” states Kevin Hestermann with Five Star Carpet & Floor Care. “You want your home to smell its freshest when you are showing it. Five Star has special deodorizing agents that can be applied after cleaning to get rid of any lingering odo
rs. The look of your floors is equally important as the first thing a potential home buyers looks at when they enter a home is the floors. You want that visual ‘inspection’ to pass so that they are interested in looking at the rest of the house. Remember you want your home to look as new as possible and the floors are a large part of that. Five Star has been doing business for over 10 years and they use truck-mounted team extraction, which is the method recommended by leading carpet manufacturers and enables us to get your carpets the cleanest they can be. We also have special stain and spot removing cleaning agents that will rid your home of that ‘used’ look and we can also bring new beauty back to your hardwood floors with our wood renewal five-step process, which includes a heavy-duty cleaning followed by applying a semi-matte finish. It’s a no-dust, no-mess, cost-effective way that will leave your floors glowing! Don’t forget the tile/grout in your kitchen or bathrooms as no potential home buyers wants to take a shower in a grungy enclosure. If your home is full of beautiful area rugs, we also recommend having those picked up, cleaned and delivered back to you so you can present your home at its very best.”
“The ideal time to have your carpets cleaned is when the house is empty,” continues Kevin. “Make sure to schedule the clea
ning of the carpet before moving day. We power vacuum your carpet before cleaning and will make every square inch of your ‘castle’ sparkle and smell fresher, too! The fibers will be standing up again and with it being just cleaned, it will reflect the light in the house better, too.”
Get replacement estimates Do you have big-ticket items that are worn out or will need to be replaced soon, such as your roof or carpeting? Get estimates on how much it would cost to replace them, even if you don’t plan to do it yourself. The figures will help buyers determine if they can afford the home, and will be handy when negotiations begin.
Don’t buy new furnishings Some people think that adding unique furnishings to their home before putting it on the market is a good way to set it apart and make it more appealing. “Furnishings are actually not important at all when trying to sell your home,” says Jody Strauch with Out of the Box. “In fact, most people show the greatest interest in the home when it is not furnished at all. What is important is updated bathrooms and kitchens. In addition, unique lighting and marble and granite countertops can be the improvements that make your home stand out among the crowd. Try to update at least one or two of these rooms prior to listing your home for sale.”
Remove personalization and clutter While you may love the purple living room and the hallways covered with photos of your children in your home, it’s unlikely that this will appeal to potential home-buyers. Before you put your home on the market, it’s important to make it as appealing to the general public as possible. That means removing as many personal items as you can (family photos, any collections you might have, artwork that is not mainstream, etc.) as well as making sure walls are painted in neutral tones. You should also remove as much clutter as you can. If you are still living in the home, this is a good time to rent a storage space so you can put some of your furnishings and unnecessary items like Christmas decorations and other storage items in it and free up room in your home.
Evaluate each room Sit and think about how you use each room. Does the dining room sit there empty 360 days of the year? If so, then maybe that room needs a different purpose. Does one of the bedrooms act as a catchall for leftover stuff? Then you need to change your habits and not bring things into the house that are just going to sit in a spare room, never to be seen from again. You can rearrange furniture, do whatever you like to try and get the most out of each and every room in your home. People will want to know what each room can be used for when they look through your home so they can see if it fits their life. If you just have a bunch of random rooms with no real purpose, it’s unlikely that they will be able to envision their own uses for them.
Focus on the outdoors Remember that the first thing potential home-buyers will see when they come to your home is the exterior. Some will drive right past and not even come to look at the interior if they are not impressed by what they see when pull up. Investing in some landscaping is definitely a good idea when you are getting ready to put your home on the market, especially if you haven’t done much with the lawn and other outdoor areas recently. “Any type of landscaping will pay you back,” points out John Hendricks with Outdoor Solutions. “Adding or redoing rocks or mulch adds some character to your home. Adding a berm or water feature will add to your home and make it that much more appealing and easier to sell.”
Hiring a lawn service now may seem like too little too late, especially if you’ve not been putting a lot of work into your lawn up to this point and it’s sparse, brown or otherwise unattractive. However, you might be surprised at what can be done by the experts in a short amount of time and it doesn’t hurt to at least have an evaluation. The fact of the matter is you just don’t know who your potential home-buyers might be and what’s important to them. Perhaps the thought of being out on your lawn every day fills you with dread, but you may have prospects who come to see your house who love taking care of a lawn and spending hours outside enjoying it.
Don’t be tempted to do it on your own Although we talked about it earlier in the article, it’s important enough to say it again here. Don’t think selling your home For Sale by Owner will save you any money! If you are going to attempt this, remember that you need to field all the calls from those with potential interest, you will have to take time off work or away from your family to show it to those with potential interest (many of whom may not actually be interested in purchasing your home) and you will have to schedule and man your own open houses. This can take enormous amounts of time and energy. If, at the same time, you are trying to go look at homes you may want to buy, it can easily consume your life. You also will have no idea what to price your home at if you try to do it on your own. You have an emotional attachment to the home and likely think that it’s worth much than it really is. A real estate agent can do a thorough evaluation of the home as well as the neighborhood and what homes are selling for in the area. This is simply something you will not be able to do on your own and you could waste months of open houses and showings that will lead nowhere if your home is not priced correctly.
In addition to time, think of the safety factor. Do you really want to be bringing strangers into your home while your family may be present? If you are a woman and will be showing it by yourself, do you really want to let strangers in and have to show them every room in your home and answer what may be uncomfortable questions? It’s so much better to have a third party do this while your family is not present. They are professionals and know how to spot potential danger signs and also be able to gauge if someone is actually interested in your home or is just spending a fun day out looking at open houses.
It’s well worth the commission will pay to have a professional take on the time, work and energy it takes to sell a home.
Working with a Moving Company
Once you have found the perfect home and are ready to move, you may think the stress is over. However, moving is often the most stressful part of the entire process. Not only do you have to say good-bye to the place you and your family have called home, but you also need to decide what gets tossed and what gets brought to the new place and make sure everything is packed and ready to be safely moved. If you’re talking about a family of four in a three bedroom home, this can be an enormous process.
“Moving is consistently ranked as one of the most stressful events in a person’s life,” explains Jason Christenson with Two Men and a Truck. “Much of this stress can be alleviated by hiring professional movers.” Hiring the right professional moving company is an important choice. “I would recommend getting two or three estimates and then making a decision based not on cost alone, but also on how each company has treated you up to that point,” Jason says. He recommends booking a mover at least two weeks in advance of your move if possible, especially in the summer months when movers are the busiest.
It may be tempting to buy a few pizzas and some drinks and think that you can just have friends and family help them move. While this sometimes work, the friends you have help you are not experts and what are you going to do if they break something or hurt themselves while lifting something? Hiring movers is not just about eliminating the hassle of having to do it yourself, it’s about having experts with the proper experience, training and insurance to make sure your items get transported safely.
Insurance
It’s important to have your trusted insurance agent involved during the home-buying process. You don’t want your agent to receive a last-minute, frantic phone call from title/escrow companies requesting a home insurance binder. As soon as your purchase offer is accepted, your insurance agent can help you through the process of choosing the right homeowner policy. Your agent needs extensive information from you to quote you the best rate and will likely ask questions such as: When was the home built? How old is the plumbing and electrical? What type of roof and how old is it? What is the square footage? How many claims have been filed over the past five years? Where is the home located? Your real estate agent should be able to help you with most if not all of these questions.
Your insurance agent will also be able to determine if you can save money on a higher deductible and if that makes sense and will help you determine how much insurance you need. The most important thing when it comes to insurance is to work with an agent you like, trust and know will be giving you good, prompt service. Nikki Watts with Watts Insurance Group says, “A good insurance agent is someone who is friendly and someone who connects with and understands you. It also helps if that person has been in the business for a while.”
Once You Have Moved In
After you have purchased your new home and moved in, you may think you work is done. However, there can still be plenty of work to do to make it feel like ‘home’, especially if you chose a home that needs some updating. Many people also take the opportunity to throw out many of their old furnishings and décor when they move as they want to start fresh in their new home.
“If you have just purchased a home and want to update it, first consider buying reclaimed building products,” suggests Jody Strauch with Out of the Box. “Many times they are new and have never been used. Buying in this way can give you the ability to do a lot more improvement to the home as it is so much more affordable. You can come into our store and find two or three pieces that are really great for your home and plan your remodel around the size and style of these pieces. We have marble and granite countertops and as well as ‘high end’ sinks
and faucets attached to marble slab. When shopping with us, purchasing a bull-nosed slab of marble with sinks and faucets attached can save you up to 75% off of what it would cost you when buying each piece at full retail rate. We are also happy to search for specific items that the new homebuyer is looking for during our buying trips. My partner Steen Lundberg has worked with several remodel and restoration of homes over the last 15 years and understands and can give advice on how to retrofit the product to work for your home or space.”
You’ve spent a lot of money on your new home and you want it to look and function its best for you and your family. It’s time to admit it if you aren’t very good at decorating and hire someone else to do it. The right decorator can make the most out of every single room and ensure that they are not only a pleasure to spend time in, but are also functional and useful. Though it will cost you more to hire a decorator, it will be well worth it in the end. If your budget is blown after the home buying investment, consider having one room at a time done as your budget allows. At least you will be making progress toward a beautifully decorated home and you can enjoy each room individually as they progressively are completed.
Of course, the inside of your home is just part of the process. You will probably also want to take a look at the landscaping of your new home and see what improvements you’d like to make there. After all, when your friends and family come over to see your new home, the first thing they will see is the outside of it and you want to make the best impression possible.
If you don’t have time to take care of the lawn (or if it’s been neglected previously and you don’t know how to restore it), you should consider hiring a professional lawn service. They will know how to make it lush and green again and will be able to set up a maintenance schedule so that you won’t have to worry about watering, fertilizing, mowing or everything else that comes along with maintaining a beautiful yard.
In addition to the lawn, you may want to think about adding some visual interest to your new landscape with flowers, plants, hardscaping materials and more. John Hendricks with Outdoor Solutions says, “We have 16 different types of rocks, seven different types of mulches, potting supplie
s, nine types of flagstones and an array of dry-stack walls to help any new homeowner add to their new landscaping. The most popular is probably our Ozark rock, coffee and brown-dyed mulches and our Black Hills and Colorado Red flagstone. This fall, trends are going to lean toward retaining walls, and flagstone patios. Water features that contain a stream without the pond are also going to be popular as they are easier to maintain than traditional water features and still allows you to hear the waterfall noise in your back yard, which many home owners like.”
“Doing some rock or mulch touch-ups on the home can help enhance its street appeal,” adds Sue Crawford with Precast Products. “Adding new outdoor furniture to the home is also a great way to improve the appearance and functionality of it.” Make sure you are going with high-end furniture that was made to be outdoors. Though it may cost more upfront, it will last much longer and look much nicer than less expensive furniture.
If you enjoy spending time outdoors and purchased a home that does not have a nice deck or patio, now may be the time to invest in it even though it may seem silly to put thousands of dollars into a home you just purchased. However, you need to think of your family’s comfort and enjoyment. If you purchase a home while the weather is nice and there is nowhere to relax outside, you’ll waste a whole year not having those memories with your family in your new home. Better to get it done now so you can begin enjoying it immediately.
Once you’ve gotten settled in, it’s time to celebrate and show everyone your new place! Some people are hesitant to have an open house or house-warming party because they don’t have everything just perfect or because they are waiting for that remodeling project to be finished. The truth is, your home will never be EXACTLY how you want it and there will always be something else to do. If you keep waiting for that magical day when you are 100% satisfied with the condition of your home, your house-warming party will never happen! Your friends and family want to see the new place and celebrate with you and they really won’t care if the paint color in the living room doesn’t match the new rug or that you haven’t gotten that tree removed from the front yard yet. Plan a day or evening when you can have everyone over to take a look and have some munchies and drinks you can enjoy while visiting and catching up.
The most important thing during this whole process to remember is not to get too stressed out! “The home-buying process can seem overwhelming at times,” concedes Jason Korn with RE/MAX. “That’s why it’s important to keep a level head and surround yourself with professionals you trust to help guide you through the process. Most importantly, remember to enjoy the process. You’re investing in your future and not everyone has the privilege of purchasing a home.”
In conclusion, Sandy Wacker with Woods Bros. Realty says, “A home is a good investment. My buyers always tell me how happy they are with their new home. How many other purchases do you make that give you the same feeling s home ownership? Caring for your home and making improvements wisely will create an investment for your future. Sharing your home with family and friends are your investment for each day—enjoy your home!”