Finding a new home can be one of the most exciting times of your life. It’s a little like dating – the pursuit, the “getting to know you” period, the proposal (aka “offer”), and the marriage (aka “closing”). If you don’t want your relationship with a new Smithtown house to crash and burn, you need to know a few things before you fall in love.
1. Know your numbers.
You’d be surprised at how many Smithtown home buyers start their new home pursuit without really knowing what they can and can’t afford. Avoid being disappointed later by getting preapproved for a mortgage before you even get started.
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2. Love the neighborhood, not just the house.
It’s easy to get caught up in how perfect a Smithtown house is and forget that the house is only part of a bigger picture. Spend as much time researching the neighborhood as you do checking into all the nooks and crannies of the house.
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3. Beware the lure of the lowball offer.
Even though buying a home is a financial decision that involves legal contracts, that doesn’t mean it’s devoid of emotion. It may be a business deal, but this is still their home – and that’s personal. Make an offer based on the selling price of other Smithtown homes in the neighborhood and then determine what the average price per square foot is for that area.
4. Get a home inspector’s “blessing.”
Some churches require engaged couples to go through a few premarital counseling sessions before they can be married in the church. Similarly, you’d be wise to seek the counsel of a qualified Smithtown home inspector before you make things official with a new home.
By following a few simple guidelines and leading with your head instead of your heart, your destiny with a new home is much more likely to end with “happily ever after.” For more extensive home buying tips, click here.
