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You and your partner have been together for some time and decided to commence on a brand new chapter together by purchasing a matrimonial home. Or you have been paying close attention to the news and see that property prices have been increasing and you feel that its time to enter the market before prices creep up even more.

If you are embarking on your real estate journey, there are many things to take note of. In the midst of all the excitement, it is easy to make some mistakes. Here’s Pink and Queen’s take on the top 5 mistakes home buyers make, based on our experience.

1. Not getting an indicative loan approval before you start viewing

In a bull market, speed is important. The last thing you want to do is fall in love with a house you can’t make an offer for. To prevent that, one of the first things you should do is get an indicative loan approval. You need to know what you can afford and what the monthly instalments look like.

When you make an offer for a property, you’ll also be in a better position because you’re pre-approved. We have seen many buyers not being able to make an offer after finding the property they love because their loan approval was not done yet. The property ended up being sold to another ready buyer.

2. Emotional Buying

You never want to fall so in love with a house that you’re emotionally invested in the purchase. If you love it so much that you feel like you’ll do anything to get a property, you can end up overpaying for the home. That can lead to buyer’s remorse and feeling like you didn’t get the best deal.

The buying process is emotional enough, and that’s why you want someone on your side that can keep your emotions in check through the close. Stay level-headed and remember that this is a serious commitment that you’ll have to live with for years to come.

3. Not engaging a Real Estate professional

Even though there is so much information available online, you should still seek the advice of an experienced professional early on in the home-buying process. Realtors guide people on the process and timeline on the important milestones.

Experienced Realtors know how to negotiate the best deal, saving you a hefty sum! Finding a real estate agent to work with is important, but take your time finding someone who’s a good match for your personality and preferences. You’re going to be spending a lot of time together throughout the process!.

4. Not being able to see the house past it’s appearance

This is a common mistake as people tend to fall in love with beautiful things. Buyers tend to prefer looking for a house that is updated with beautiful finishing, fixtures, and is decorated beautifully. This is what we call, an eye candy. People get so busy looking at superficial details and forget about things that they can’t change about the house like the location, the facing, or that it’s on a busy road.

Buyers may overlook a home that needs renovation, but has great value and a good location. When shopping for a house, keep in mind that the interior of the property can easily be fixed.

5. Skipping the home inspection

Home inspection is important as it can reveal crucial information about the state of the property you are about to purchase. Before making a decision on purchasing the property, head down for a second viewing to look at the property thoroughly.

Hidden defects and leakages can only be discovered when you physically inspect the property. Photos and virtual tours provide initial guidance but are insufficient on its own. This is also where your Real Estate professional will be able to add value too.

Summary

There you have it, our short and sweet top 5 mistakes home buyers make. Purchasing a property may seem like a daunting task but fret not, they are all actually avoidable by engaging the right professional.

Are you currently on the hunt for a property? We have a panel of experts and team to assist and make this a seamless process. Contact us and we will be glad to start this exciting journey with you.