A knowledgeable
REALTOR® can help take some of the stress out of the home buying process. Now let’s see what you can do to take some pressure off of yourself.
Say that you
and your significant other have spent several evenings looking at homes over
the last several months, or you allocate Sundays to view Open Houses. One of two things will likely happen and they
both will cause you some anxious moments: 1.) You looked at twenty homes and didn’t find exactly
what you were looking for; or 2.) You found the ideal home only to find out
that someone has already put a contract on it. In markets where there is very little
inventory and lots of buyers, the speed in which you have to make an offer can
be nerve racking.
Purchasing a
home is perhaps the most important financial decision you will ever make, let’s
face it, it's the largest part of that quality of life that you envision for
your family. If you are experiencing
anxiety, it might help if you pinpoint where this uneasiness comes from.
What
determines our comfort in any given situation; is our perception that we have
things under control. There are so many
moving parts in the home buying process, that it would be impossible to control
every outcome; trying to do so would only lead to more stress. When anxiety sneaks in, try and take a step
back and refocus on the 'big picture'.
You already know why you're buying a home! Psychologist Sue Murrin urges homebuyers to
adjust how they think about the process in order to combat stress. According to Murrin, "we have to tackle
our own thoughts as much as taking action on any aspect of the buying/ selling
stages.” (article: House Buying Stressful or Fun by Sue Murrin)
Before you
identify a home that will be right for you, it is important to try and
understand whether you are stressed by the process, or about internal feelings that
are within your control. You can take
away some of the stress by addressing some of the unknowns. Money ―
Are you worried about
spending too much to maintain a healthy budget? If so, talk to your agent about showing you
homes that may be a little less expensive. Career ―
Is your employment
situation likely to change? If so,
deciding to wait until you are sure that your job is stable or salary remains
constant, may be a viable option. Market ― Do you fear that the price of
the home may go down in value? Home prices
do fluctuate that we know, but one thing you can do to mitigate this is to make
sure you take pride in the appearance of your home, and think of it as an
investment for the long-term.
Make sure
you’ve done your homework, and once the hard part of searching and buying a
house is over, you can now finally enjoy a lifetime of making it yours.
Jason Wrenn
Long and Foster
202.247.7513
No comments:
Post a Comment