Buying a home requires a lot of effort and patience. From preparing financial documents to checking every new listing daily and scheduling it up for house hunting. On top of this, you have your daily routines and responsibilities, like going to work or taking care of the kids.
The house-hunting process can be very exciting, especially for first-time buyers who specifically save up for down payments and other necessary expenses for the house. However, despite having everything ready, it can be overwhelming to view houses and find your dream home. It’s like entering a bidding war just to find and win your dream home.
Taking Notes
Remembering all the details from every home you visit can be overwhelming, but you can keep track of everything by taking down notes. Using a pen and notebook or your phone, list down everything you liked and disliked about the house. When it’s time to compare down locations, you can use your notes as a basis.
Using Of Spreadsheet
If you’re familiar with Excel and you think that it’s easier for you to use it, then a handy spreadsheet is the answer. You can input all the details in the spreadsheet and simplify so it will be easier for you when you look and compare for details, such as a three-bedroom, two-bathroom with parking or when the offer for a four-bedroom with two-bathroom is a good price.
You can easily drop this into a spreadsheet with homes listed in a vertical column on the left and their status and details in a horizontal column across. Depending on your style you can do a lot using the spreadsheet.
Here are some details you can put on your note or spreadsheet:
Taking Photos - You can take a photo of the house you’ve visited, especially the ones that you think are a potential home you can live in. It’s also important to keep documents, which of course include photos and layouts. Images are not available if it's already a sold home and the listing comes down, sometimes, it’s better to have an actual photo than the real estate photos for comparison.
Real estate photos are too good to be true and are taken from an angle so they’ll look bigger than their actual size. Having an actual photo means you can have an actual comparison of the size and square footage which is essential when looking for a home.
Listing And Sold Prices - It is essential to track this on either your notes or spreadsheet. As much as listing prices matter, sold prices matter too. It’ll help you to know the actual market value of a home in your neighborhood. This way you can also compare prices and know if the house you want to see is overprice or underprice.
Establishments Around – When you are in a neighborhood with good establishments like restaurants, churches, schools, and the like, it is more likely that the price of the home in this area is much higher than the home with the same features that are not around the establishment but in the same neighborhood.
Rooms And Bathrooms - It is also important to input these details on your notes or spreadsheet so you can remember the number of bedrooms and bathrooms on houses you have viewed. You won’t always remember everything and it’ll likely blend in your memory if you don’t take down notes. Doing so will give you an idea of the size of the house just by knowing the number of bedrooms and bathrooms.
Parking And Garage - Tracking every feature of a home can be overwhelming, but it is an essential part of the process to make sure that you won't forget any "must-have" you have on your list. This might include a parking, garage, finished basement, or even an attic. By doing so, not only will you know which home has these features, you can also easily narrow down on house hunting and choose the right home.
Home Style - Noting the age of the homes you’ve looked at is also important. This will be a good reminder of the potential costs you might have in the future. Remember, with older homes, it is more likely that you will replace some parts like the appliances or HVAC system unlike with newly built homes, which are likely to have little to no repairs.
You can also jot down the style of the home you’ve been to. For some, style is also important in choosing a home they want so it is a good thing to note. It may not have an impact on pricing but it will play a big part in choosing the right home for you.
Viewing Season - It might not have a big impact unlike the listings and sold prices, but the season when you viewed the home might affect your decision. For example, you happen to view it during winter and now that it's spring, you might feel different about it. Some people change their minds when they see the house in a different season, so you might want to include this on the list.
Thoughts - Why include these on your notes? Well, why not? Along with noting everything from the prices, rooms, bathrooms, and other features, having your thoughts about the home also plays a big part in deciding whether to buy it or not. You can include a few notes on how you feel about the house as you walk through it, what your "vibes" are, and whether you feel overwhelmed or happy.
Putting these notes might help you influence your decision. Depending on the style you want, you might find it more exciting to walk through a modern house than an old house. Your feelings about the house make a difference and could also lead to you finding the right home that will make you happy and at home.
Caroline Soriano