Kitchen Table Real Estate:

How to Find the Right Home

Joseph Kateb

Hello all. I hope you had a nice holiday and are ready for an exciting new year. May 2020 be one of the best years ever for you. Starting a new year is always exciting. We make plans and goals and work toward fulfilling them. If being a new homeowner is one of your plans for 2020, I have some tips to help you realize your goal.
If you have read this column in the past, you probably know that planning ahead is very important. It will be easier for you to find the right home by being prepared.
Before you start looking you need to have an idea of what you want, what is a deal breaker and what is not. For instance how many bedrooms, bathrooms and living spaces do you need? Is a garage a must, does it have to be attached to the house? How big of a lot do you want? In which area of town do you want to live?
If you are pre-approved you will know what the maximum you can pay for a house is and this is a very good starting point.
If you are handy with tools, you might consider a home that need minor improvements and save some money.
If you plan to have kids, you may need an extra bedroom. So make sure to give yourself some room to grow.
So start by making a list and decide what is important and what is not. Unless you get really lucky, the homes you view probably won’t have every single thing on your wish list. But that doesn’t mean it can’t become your perfect home.
The key is looking past the exterior cosmetic blemishes to the home’s bones. Carpet floors, a shade of paint, or some kitchen cabinets that need updating are all things you can upgrade to fit your style.
So look for a well-built home that has the space you need, some features you love, a layout that serves your lifestyle and a price point that allows you to make some changes. With a little TLC, this will be the home you will grow to love.
So go ahead and look online to get an idea of the styles and prices available in the area.
Realtor.ca will show you all the houses available in the area from all the different brokerage companies. Then take your search offline and go visit the surroundings in person too.
You will come across some point in the home buying process where technology can’t help and that’s when you definitely want an agent because nothing can replace the local expertise of an experienced agent. With instant access to homes as they come on the market, an agent can provide real-time updates to help you beat other buyers.
Your agent will guide you from start to finish by sharing expert insight into each home’s pricing and potential, negotiating a great deal, and handling all the paperwork. When all is said and done, you can feel confident knowing you made the decision that was right for you and your family.