There’s a saying in my family that routinely brings a chuckle (or three) out of everyone except my mother. The reason is that those chuckles are at her expense but deep down she knows that my father, sister and I do it out of love. Definitely not out of amusement.

While the latter half of the saying varies depending on time, date and season, it always begins with “It’s hard to imagine …”

For instance, we could be driving along, staring at the snow-covered landscape and my mom would chirp up and say, “It’s hard to imagine that in six months time these trees will be covered in leaves.” Like clockwork, we can depend on her uttering some variation of those words and so, the “it’s hard to imagine” phrase has become a part of our family.

Now, as Amy and I sit here typing up our takeaways from our Homebuying Adventures, I have to sit back, think of my mother and say, “It’s hard to imagine that a few months ago we were just beginning this adventure.”

We learned so much that we decided to break it down into our top 10 tips for first-time homebuyers:

• Talk with a Realtor®. They know the ins and outs of real estate and can give you all of the facts to help make the best decision for yourself.
• Keep an open mind. As a first-time homebuyer, it’s important to understand that you won’t be living in the same home forever.  It’s your first home so you will have to compromise.
• Check your credit score. Imagine navigating a new area without a map. Well, that would be like searching for homes without knowing what home you can afford. Your credit score gives you an indication of your price point so be sure to get this in order before you start.
• Do the white glove test. Buying a home is one of the biggest purchase decisions you will ever make so inspect the property thoroughly, white gloves and all.
• Location affects price. The closer you get to a popular area, the more you’ll spend. In a less trendy location, you’ll find a larger house for the same money. This falls under compromising.
• Check out the area. You should visit the area at several times during the day: in the morning afternoon and evening. This may help you determine what the area is like as far as traffic during the work commute and for safety at night.
• Get pre-qualified. This way, going into the home search process you will be prepared for exactly what you can afford.
• Better safe than sorry. If you aren’t the Bob Vila type, look into getting a home warranty. A home warranty can help cover major repairs like a leaky roof, a heating or air conditioning system, appliance breakdowns and electrical problems, just to name a few.  As a new homeowner, you don’t need surprise expenses.
• Insurance isn’t one-size-fits-all. If you want coverage that is personalized to suit your needs and budget, go with an independent insurance agent, who works with many carriers and can offer more options.
• Offer is more than price. An offer is much more than a price you put forth to a seller. It involves warranties and fees and due diligence and everything in between.

We hope you enjoyed the adventure as much as we did! But remember, just because it’s over doesn’t mean we disappear. We’ll always be here to answer questions and who knows …maybe a blooper reel will appear in the near future!

By Genevieve Jooste (Social Media Coordinator)