There aren’t many situations in one’s life as major as buying or selling real estate, particularly if the transaction deals with your primary residence. “In my home! Where my children come and play with their toys!” Thank you for indulging me in this gratuitous Godfather Part II quote.
A million and one questions plague buyers and sellers. Will you find the right home that meets your needs and your budget? Will your home sell in time to purchase another? What will the closing costs be? Will you be happy there? Will the home and neighborhood be right for your family? What will we learn during inspection? Will it appraise at the desired value?
For first-time buyers and sellers, in particular, it can be a little scary, but don’t let what seems like a daunting process hold you back from achieving your real estate goals. Here are some tips to keep you sane through the purchasing process.
Get in Sync With Your Realtor
Your Realtor is with you for every step of the process. From the beginning, be clear with them about your timing – where you have hard deadlines and where you have some wiggle room. They might even be able to help you rethink some of those deadlines and find creative solutions to your challenges. Once you’re under contract, your Realtor will give you a clear timeline for your sale or purchase and will shepherd the transaction through the process. Communication is key.
Get Organized
The lead-up to going under contract can be stressful because you feel like there are a lot of unknown factors. Take this time to get yourself organized, and continue to communicate with your Realtor. If you’re buying, keep track of the properties you’ve visited and what you liked and didn’t like about them. If you’re selling, ask your Realtor to share feedback from prospective buyers. Don’t be afraid to change your plan a bit.
Focus On What You Can Control
Sometimes, things don’t go exactly the way we want them to. By all means, take steps to remedy anything you or your Realtor can influence to your favor, but don’t stress about things you can’t control. Instead, put your efforts into positive pursuits that will help you. Go full-on Marie Kondo on your stuff. Declutter and organize – it has to be done before a move either way so you might as well channel your energy in that direction. If you’re selling, work on some projects around the house, like adding landscaping or repainting a room.
Thinking of buying or selling but not sure where to start or what to expect? I would love to help you make your real estate dreams a reality. Contact me at maggie@debianchi.com or shoot me a text or message on social media.
Maggie Gunther 