How to Save Money Next Time You Buy
Posted by Sue Boyle on Tuesday, August 7th, 2012 at 8:30am.
Most buyers have two things in mind when they start looking for a home. First, they want to make sure they find a home that has all of the features they need and desire and secondly, they want to get the best deal possible.
When looking at buyers who have been able to save thousands of dollars off of the seller's asking price, you see a trend. There are three things that you should be aware of before you ever submit an offer:
- Make sure you have a clear idea of what you're looking for. I know it sounds like commom sense but many buyers don't realize, until they've started looking, exactly what's important to them. You have to be able to differentiate between what you desire and what you need. Finding a home that satisfies both is ideal but not always possible. Will a condo on the beach work or would a home on the water suit your needs better? One of the biggest mistakes buyers make is buying a home for the wrong reasons and then, regreting their decision later because it doesn't have everything they need.
- Don't allow your emotions to dictate your decision. Satisy your needs first and hopefully, the home will also satisfy your desires. The important thing is to understand the difference between the two so you don't get too caught up in the exitement. Your Realtor should take the time to sit down with you and find out what's most important to you and what your "ideal" home looks like. When they truly understand what matters to you, they can be a huge help during the process. Your Realtor should be more than just a person who unlocks the doors of the homes for you and draws up the offer.
- Choose a Realtor with a website that allows you to plug in the exact criteria that you're looking for and save searches. You should then receive homes that match your criteria as soon as they come on the market. Not all websites are alike so, make sure your Realtor's is easy to use with large photos and enough available criteria for you to choose from. This will save you lots of time and also insure that you don't miss the perfect home when it becomes available.