If you're like most homebuyers, you
have two primary considerations in
mind when you start looking for a
home. First, you want to find a home
that perfectly meets your needs and
desires, and secondly, you want to purchase
this home for the lowest possible
price.
When you analyze those successful
homebuyers who have been able to purchase
the home they want for thousands
of dollars below a seller's asking price,
some common denominators emerge.
Although your agent's negotiating skills
are important, there are three additional
key factors that must come into play
long before you ever submit an offer.
These 3 Steps Will Help You
Save Thousands When
You Buy a Home
Make sure you know what you want . . .
As simple as this sounds, many homebuyers
don't have a firm idea in their
heads before they go out searching for a
home. In fact, when you go shopping
for a place to live, there are actually two
homes competing for your attention: the one that meets your needs and the one
that fulfills your desires. Obviously,
your goal is to find one home that does
both. But in the real world, this situation
doesn't always occur.
When you're looking at homes,
you'll find that you fall in love with
one or another for entirely different
reasons. Is it better to buy the 4-
bedroom home with room for your
family to grow, or the one with the big
eat-in kitchen that romances you with
thoughts of big weekend family
brunches? What's more important: a
big backyard or proximity to your
child's school? Far too often people buy a home for the wrong reasons
and then regret their decision when
the home doesn't meet their needs.
Don't shop with stars in your
eyes: satisfy your needs first. If you're
lucky, you'll find a home that does this
and also fulfills your desires. The
important thing is to understand the
difference before you get caught up in
the excitement of looking.
Find out if your agent offers a
"Buyer Profile System" or "Househunting
Service," which takes the
guesswork out of finding just the right
home that matches your needs. This
type of program will cross-match your
criteria with ALL available homes
on the market and supply you with
printed information on an on-going
basis. A program like this helps homebuyers
take off their rose-colored glasses
and affordably move into the home
of their dreams.
To help you develop your homebuying
strategy, use this form:
What do I absolutely NEED in my next
home:
1. ______________________________
2. ______________________________
3. ______________________________
4. ______________________________
5. ______________________________
What would I absolutely LOVE in my
next home:
1. _______________________________
2. _______________________________
3. _______________________________
4. _______________________________
5. _______________________________
"When you analyze those successful homebuyers who have the experience to
purchase the home they want for thousands of dollars below a seller's asking
price, some common denominators emerge."
