5 Things to Do When Buying a Home for the First Time

If you’re on the verge of buying a home, it’s understandable to be excited. After all – a home is central to the American dream, and buying your first house promises to be a real adventure. As you plan your big move, however, don’t forget to do these five critical things:

5 Smart Things to Do When Buying a Home

Whether you’re buying a home in your town or on the other side of the country, do these five things to make the process easier:

1. Ask for help

Asking for help is critical when it comes to buying a home. Between moving, painting, renovating (if needed), and getting out of your rental, there’s a lot to do, and more hands will be welcome!

With this in mind, ask your friends and family to chip in when and where they can. More likely than not, these people will be eager to help, and involving them will make you (and them) feel good.

2. Take stock of your furniture and belongings

If there are pieces of furniture or clothing or kitchen materials you won’t need in your new home, get rid of them now. In addition to helping make your move easier, ditching these items now will also give you a clearer vision of what you need in your new home, and allow you to fill gaps where they exist, without duplicating items you already have.

3. Start the moving process early

Nobody likes to be rushed when it comes to moving. Not only does this push you to make mistakes, but it also makes the experience of moving much more stressful! To enjoy a simpler and more streamlined move, start the process early.

Ideally, you should begin packing your lesser-used items more than a month before you have to be out of your rental. As you get closer to moving day, bring in friends and family to finish off the move and finish cleaning your old place.

4. Talk to an attorney

Buying a new home can be a confusing and overwhelming process. To ensure you’re not missing anything, or getting yourself in over your head, talk to a real estate attorney about the sales agreement for the new home, and the process you’re going through with the seller. If your contract is entirely on the up-and-up, the attorney won’t do anything more than offer some reassurance. If there are things that don’t advantage you, however, the attorney will be able to spot them and put an end to them before they become significant problems.

5. Make a spreadsheet of your new homeowner expenses

If you’ve never owned a home before, simple things like property taxes and insurance costs can take you by surprise. To avoid the unpleasant shock of a big financial surprise, make a spreadsheet and use it to log all these new homeowner expenses. This will help you stay on top of them more efficiently and plan your finances accordingly.

Buying a Home For Novices

Even though the purchase of a home can feel overwhelming, there are dozens of great ways to streamline the process. By asking for help, preparing ahead of time, and consulting with an attorney, it’s easy to make the process straightforward and welcoming, even though you’ve never done it before!