Ways To Beat The Stress Of Buying A Home
DEATH, DIVORCE & MOVING are the three most stressful experiences in
life. There are two very different kinds of needs that people have
while moving. First there are the transactional needs, like finding
the home that is just right for you, finding a seller who is
realistic, negotiating the price, filling out the paperwork, handling
the escrow, and arranging for the move. But there are also emotional
needs that are involved when moving, and this is where the biggest
stress comes in. Any competent agent will handle the transactional
needs for you, but if your emotional needs are unfulfilled, you'll be
frustrated and may not act in your own best interests. The ideal real
estate agent is one who is competent with paperwork and numbers, but
can also guide, direct, and counsel you through the emotional ups and
downs of moving. Here are some of the best ways we've found to beat the
stress.
1. Begin with the end in mind. Have an ultimate scenario of where
you're trying to be. What will life be like when you get there? How
will it be better than where you are now? Dwell on that picture and
write it out, fill up at least a page about how it feels in the new
place. This is imperative. Having the goal in front of you at all
times energizes you to achieve it, in spite of setbacks and
frustrations. Emotions will run high and you need an anchor. In
childbirth, the Lamaze method teaches you to focus on one spot when
enduring labor pains. In the same way, you too must focus on that
future goal when anxiety threatens to get the better of you.
2. Be flexible. In your monetary calculations, overestimate by a
thousand dollars. In this market, anything can happen between contract
acceptance and closing. It could be the inspections reveal areas of
concern that the seller is unwilling to fix or the repair costs are
higher than the amount limited in the contract. Or the interest rate
changes which affects the necessary down payment and closing costs you
will need to come up with. As your real estate team, we will strive to
tie up loose ends as quickly as possible, but remember there is no
perfect world. Most buyers feel a bit overwhelmed when taking on a
new mortgage and the responsibilities of a new home and we've seen
many buyers get angry when it seems like the cost just keeps going up.
Anger is caused when reality doesn't match up with the expectations
you had in your mind. So if you anticipate this happening in advance,
you won't get angry. In fact, it'll probably go better than you
expected.
3. Trust in the process. There's just so much to do, it's easy to
panic. You wonder if it will ever work out. In fact, when we bought
our house, we couldn't eat for a day, we felt sick to our stomachs!
You think you're taking a big chance, but the truth is you're giving
yourself a big chance. Even though you can't see every step of the
way, as you move towards your goals, the way opens up. We know that
you haven't moved in a long time and it's a major upheaval in your
life. But we've been there many times before, and we'll be looking
out for you. Trust that we know the way to get you there.
4. Get knowledge. One thing you'll probably feel during this
transition time is being out of control. It feels like everyone else
has taken over your life. The seller, your lender, the appraiser, the
inspectors, they all have the power to say yes or no to your moving
plans. We'll try our best to let you know ahead of time what your
expenses will be, and what the unknowns are. We'll tie down the loose
ends as soon as possible. We'll try to get your loan approved within
a reasonable time frame. We'll educate you as best we can and let you
in "behind the scenes" so you won't ever feel stupid or out of
control.
5. Seek entertainment. When there's nothing you can do about the
situation, take your mind off of it altogether. Maybe you expected
loan approval on Friday, but now it won't come until Monday. You hate
being in limbo and feeling powerless. So do something else entirely,
maybe something where you aren't powerless. Take a hike, play tennis,
get out of town for the day. Watch a movie or pour yourself into your
work. Whatever diversion works best for you, now would be a good time
to engage in it. Just forget the situation and refuse to listen to
those irritating thoughts when they come into your head. Think about
something else instead and just take it one day at a time. To keep
stress to a minimum, here's how I'll serve you when you work with me
in buying your new home: Give my best-reasoned expert counsel and
advice with your best interests in mind. Clarify your goals and
motivation, and decide if moving is the wisest choice at this time.
Provide recommendations and information to help your kids through all
the changes. Negotiate effectively for you to get the lowest possible
price for your new home. Treat your money like it was my own, saving
every expense possible. Protect your interests during escrow, keeping
a detailed record of the transaction. Be your levelheaded sounding
board or relief valve when the stress is overwhelming. Counsel you
through the feelings of "buyer's remorse". Alert you ahead of time to
every possibility so you feel more in control. Contact you daily
during the last 10 days of the transaction to serve your needs.
Provide guidance and help with movers, change of address, utilities
shut off, cleaning, etc. Deliver your closing paperwork. Continue to
give you information of value after the transaction... for life.
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