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Local Voices

Improve Your Home Search by Planning Ahead

By Kathy Davis, Branch Vice President of

Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Annapolis Church Office

From finding a real estate agent to searching for the right property, and obtaining a mortgage to closing on your new home, the process of buying a house can be quite time consuming. Luckily, by approaching it the right way from the start, you can save a great deal of time and effort while increasing your chances of securing your dream home.

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Perhaps the most difficult part of the home search is finding what you want. Avoid confusion by making a list of the most important home characteristics ahead of time. For example, buyers likely have a desired number of bedrooms in mind, or a preferred school district or home style.

It may also be useful to make a secondary list of characteristics that you’d prefer but can do without.

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When evaluating for-sale homes, don’t put too much emphasis on easily altered cosmetic details like the color of the walls. Repainting is one of the cheapest and easiest changes to make to a home. Instead, focus on aspects that can’t be altered without extensive and costly work, such as the floor plan.

Getting pre-approved for a loan can improve the home search process by establishing a price range, making it easier to find homes that suit your budget.

Real estate agents are an extremely helpful resource during the process. For assistance with buying or selling a home in the Annapolis Church area, contact the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Annapolis Church office at 410.263.8686 or visit CBmove.com.

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