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6 Buying Tips When Purchasing A Home in Glen Allen, Va

By
Real Estate Agent with RVA HomePRO Realtor with Keller Williams serving Hanover, Henrico, Chesterfiled and Richmond, Virginia 0225205023

6 Home Buying TipsThese 6 buying tips will save you time, money, and headaches when you're looking for a new home:

     1.   Get Pre-Qualified – before you can seriously consider purchasing a home, it’s important to know exactly how much you can afford. This can be the scariest part of the buying process for some. It’s perfectly natural to be nervous, but we can put you in touch with someone you can trust to help get you pre-qualified. A good lender may ask you financial questions you wouldn’t reveal to your mother, but they also will not share anything with any other party unless you allow them to do so – not even your real estate agent. The further you progress in the prequalification process the stronger your loan package and your offer will be when sellers consider accepting your offer.

     2.   Always Think Resale due to the mobility of the economy, the length of ownership in the US is about 5 to 7 years, sometimes more. This is important to keep in mind when looking for your next home. For instance, homes backing up to a busy street or railroad sell for less and take longer to sell than other homes in the neighborhood. What may be a unique feature for you may be a stumbling block for the next buyer. Go into any home purchase with the thinking of how am I going to sell this home when it’s time for us to move onto the next home.

     3.   Aesthetics Can Be Changed – flooring, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, paint colors and wallpaper can all be changed; often at minimal expense and effort. Don’t let the lime green wallpaper or dated faucets and light fixtures turn you off of your potential dream home. Think of how much fun it will be to make a home yours and paint it your favorite color!

     4.   Don’t WAIT! – too often home buyers fall in love with a property, wait a few days to make a decision because they are nervous, and the home that they fell in love with SOLD! If you love the home, don’t wait for someone else to live in YOUR home – be prepared to write an offer! An offer on a home is an invitation to begin a negotiating conversation with a seller.

     5.   Compare Sales – to determine the best price to offer, or to know if the asking price is reasonable, look at the recent sales of similar homes, called “comparable sales.” Comparable sales are recent sales of homes that compare closely to the one you are looking to purchase, usually sold in the past few months. Specifically, you want to compare prices of homes that are similar in square footage, garage spaces, number of bedrooms and baths, lot size, etc. Other homes currently available for sale in the area can also give you clues to a home’s value. Let us help you with a Buyer’s Market Analysis to make an informed decision.

 

RVA Ghost

     6.   Watch Out for the Phantom – when searching for a home buyers often have an ideal picture of what their first or next home will look like. In their mind they want the perfect home, on a perfect lot, with all the perfect features. Unless you are willing to build your perfect home on the perfect lot, with all the perfect features your perfect home likely doesn’t exist. Real estate is a very perishable market – what is available today may not be there tomorrow. And the inventory next week may be completely different with homes having different features in different locations, and different compromises you may have to make.


The above article is a part of my Home Buyer's Guide I provide to every client looking for their next home. As a RVA HomePRO I work to be one step ahead of my clients and help them understand what to expect while explaining complex terms and processes in easier to understand concepts and educating them along the path to purchasing their next home. If you are looking for homes in Richmond Virginia, homes in Glen Allen Virginia, or homes in Mechanicsville Virginia and all points in between I can help. Check out RVA HomePRO.com to begin your home search today.

 

Posted by
RVA Home Pro
Michael Hottman As a Licensed Real Estate Agent in Virginia and a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia I strive to help others achieve their goals in life, whether it's selling or buying a property or becoming the person they were meant to be.


My background includes a Bachelor of Architecture from Virginia Tech and a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), managing residential properties, graphic design, corporate information technology, and being a third generation Realtor®. My experience in real estate started when I was old enough to help my dad clean out rental properties and I have started taking my son on showing appointments already.

My goal is to always provide my clients with 5 STAR service from the time I meet them to far beyond the close of their initial transaction, making them clients for all the real estate transactions they may ever have.

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Keller Williams
6600 W. Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23230

804-767-5710

www.RVAHomePro.com

www.MichaelHottman.com

Michael@Hottman.com

While the information in this blog post is thought to be accurate and reliable on the date it is posted, it is provided on an “as is” basis and without warranty of any kind, either express or implied and is given for educational and informational purposes only. The contents of this article should not be considered as theraputic, legal, accounting, or other advice. For a comprehensive consultation regaring your personal situation please consult a competent professional in the appropriate field.

 

Found in Real Estate Blogs Directory - a directory of real estate blogs and
blogs of industries affiliated with and serving the real estate industry.

 

 

Comments (10)

David Shamansky
US Mortgages - David Shamansky - Highlands Ranch, CO
Creative, Aggressive & 560 FICO - OK, Colorado Mtg

Michael all of these are great facts to keep in mind but my personal fav was #6 oh that phantom and all the problems he/she causes ... lol too damn funny

Feb 09, 2015 12:02 PM
RVA HomePRO Michael Hottman
RVA HomePRO Realtor with Keller Williams serving Hanover, Henrico, Chesterfiled and Richmond, Virginia - Glen Allen, VA
Helping you achieve goals in life & real estate

David Shamansky  It's a concept from my various professions - we are often persuing the phantom job, relationship, and sometimes home. People constantly search for that ideal "perfect" that never exists.

Feb 09, 2015 12:41 PM
Catherine Ulrey
Keller Williams Capital City - Salem, OR
Equestrian and Acreage Property Specialist

#2 is so important!  So many buyers don't think about resale.  They fall in love at the moment, and regret it later when it's time to move.

Feb 09, 2015 01:40 PM
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Michael - Great information for home buyers. I like number 3 because most people don't realize many of those things can easily be changed. Also, number 6. I know people who had custom homes built that still felt it was not their perfect home.

Feb 09, 2015 02:39 PM
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Most people wait and see will cost them in the end.  If you find a home don't wait it will be gone

Feb 09, 2015 08:21 PM
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

Excellent advice for prospective homebuyers;  it's a lot harder than it looks, which is why buyers need representation. 

Feb 10, 2015 06:30 AM
Ron Marshall
Marshall Enterprises - Saint Michael, MN
Birdhouse Builder Extraordinaire

Michael your list is inclusive and really well-written. I hope that buyers know that you are in their corner!

Feb 17, 2015 10:49 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

This is good advice for prospective home buyers.

Be careful if you must be out and about in ice and snow.

Feb 18, 2015 11:20 PM
RVA HomePRO Michael Hottman
RVA HomePRO Realtor with Keller Williams serving Hanover, Henrico, Chesterfiled and Richmond, Virginia - Glen Allen, VA
Helping you achieve goals in life & real estate

Ron Marshall - thank you for the kind words. I do work hard to represent and protect my clients while helping them achieve their goals.

 

Feb 19, 2015 11:29 AM
Athina Boukas
Virginia Capital Realty - Richmond, VA
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)

I like the phantom warning too. Even newly built, custom homes can be a disappointment. They always go over budget, and they may not turn out the way you envisioned.

Jun 14, 2016 05:36 AM