Welcome to the emotional ride that is buying a home. When you are spending so much money, you want to make sure you choose the right investment. The process is exciting, complicated and, let’s face it, a little bit scary at times. Your mind is bound to be racing with so many things – wants, needs, location and lifestyle, compromises and must-haves. We all have those little fibs we tell ourselves to make things feel a little easier. Here are some fun classic fibs that many homebuyers tell themselves when looking for a new home.
1. I’m Going to Keep Below My Budget
You know that it’s essential to establish your budget before you start looking at houses. For one, you don’t want to be disappointed should you be able to afford less than you thought, but also if you have a mortgage in principle this places you in a stronger position when it’s time to make an offer. With your budget in hand, we know many home hunters have a deep desire to stay below that figure, but the reality is many don’t. Now this isn’t through lack of trying, they just discover that those extra pennies can often get them the home they really want.
One strong word of warning: if you know that your budget will be stretching you financially, lower it to something you are more comfortable with. You may have to make a compromise or two but you will be happy you did when you feel more financially stable.
2. It’s Fine If They Don’t Accept My Offer
This is such a typical way of trying to prepare yourself for disappointment, because deep down you know that you absolutely want this house and you will be shedding a tear or two if you don’t get it. But telling ourselves a fib like this makes us feel a little better, as does the relief when the offer is accepted and we can finally be honest!
3. I’m Happy to Do Some Work
It is always tempting to look at properties that need some work because, at the end of the day, you can turn them into exactly what you want and add value along the way. But what you think you’re up for now may not be the reality. We have seen many cases over the years where would-be renovators end up standing inside a project house looking like bunnies caught in the headlights. Be honest with yourself, when you say, “I’m happy to do some work”, do you really mean, “I don’t mind painting the walls but knocking one down and doing any kind of building is a little out of my depth”?
4. I’m Not in Any Rush
Now we wouldn’t say searching for a new home can become addictive, but it’s funny how you start off with intentions of not rushing – and then suddenly that changes. You avidly check any new listings daily – okay, maybe hourly – to try and get in there first, calling the agents quickly to arrange a viewing because you don’t want to miss out by only sending an email. Pretty soon your ‘not in any rush’ mentality is replaced by a quest that you can’t seem to walk away from.
5. The House Will Still Be Available in a Few Days
Or will it? We would love to tell you that you have some thinking time after a viewing, time to see other properties and check out the location, but the fact is, in the current market, waiting is a sure-fire way of missing out on a property you love. Houses are flying right now, but that doesn’t mean you should make a rash decision. Try and do your research on the location and similar properties and understand what it is exactly that you need, so that when you attend a viewing on a property that gives you the overwhelming feeling of being your future home, you are ready to act, and act fast.
Buying a home
Whether you’re a first-time buyer or just unsure about the best way to start your property search, our team at Deakin-White are always here to help. We know the area intimately, can help you drill down to what’s important in your next home, and explain the best way to approach the sales process. If you’re also telling yourself the classic fib ‘you can do this on your own’, let us show you the difference it makes to have a great local estate agent by your side. You can read more about the home buying process with our handy First Time Buyers Guide - https://www.dwrealestate.co.uk/images/first-time-buyer-guide.pdf
