9 Winter Home Buying Mistakes to Avoid
Sharon Monticello
Sharon Monticello is native to one of California's most picturesque areas— Petaluma, nestled in the heart of wine country, has been home to Sharon's...
Sharon Monticello is native to one of California's most picturesque areas— Petaluma, nestled in the heart of wine country, has been home to Sharon's...
Buying a home no matter the season is truly a difficult feat. It’s a long-term commitment that one must put a lot of thought and time into to avoid having any regrets later on.
And to top it all off, doing your home buying in the winter season can even be MORE challenging, with the cold weather and social events all around! So, it’s important to be very keen on going house hunting to avoid making any irrefutable winter home-buying mistakes.
What ARE the common mistakes people make when buying a home during the cold season? Check our list to find out!
Being Too Single-Minded
Like any other major purchase, home buyers need to shop around the real estate market before making decisions. The winter season may be quite slow for home selling, but buyers should remember that there will still be an array of options to choose from.
Try to look online at all available homes that meet your housing criteria before settling, even if you already know the exact type of home you want. Who knows, you might even end up finding a home that has a feature you didn’t know you needed!
Not Caring Much About Home Efficiency
You know what? Shopping for a home in the winter may actually work out for home buyers! The weather helps them consider and discover how capable a house is in rough weather– something you may not see in the lighter seasons.
Since the season may bring raging occurrences like blizzards and snow build-ups, it’s vital to check and confirm that the house you intend to buy can withstand these events. Buyers and sellers should also look for ways to save energy during the winter months since it helps create a healthy environment in which we live!
Skipping Professional Home Inspection
Nowadays, many homebuyers decide to waive their home inspections, as they find themselves losing out on home after home upon including a home inspection contingency. However, skipping the professional home inspection doesn’t go in your best interest.
Having a professional look through a potential home before moving forward to purchase the home can provide an additional piece of mind, especially if you’re buying a home during this season. Stop hurrying up the process– it’s ideal to delay the purchase by a few days or weeks from your intended date and have a reliable and safe home.
Going Beyond Your “Comfortable” Budget
In most parts of the globe, winter is simultaneous with the holiday season. That means your money will have to go to various responsibilities like holiday shopping, gift-giving, and vacation– aside from buying a home.
Having said this, not setting a strict, comfortable budget when buying a home can leave you in debt, which will frustrate you and even possibly prevent you from enjoying your new investment!
Meet with your financial advisor or bank and know the amount of money you can spend without drowning in debt. It is why getting pre-approval before looking at homes is one of the most important steps to buying a house!
Dwelling Too Much On a Home’s Poor Winter Curb Appeal
When buying a home in the winter, you always have to have your imagination in full mode. Otherwise, you might overlook a good house because of its dreary exterior appearance.
Take a look at your chosen home and imagine how it will look in the spring when the trees are full of leaves, and the flowers have bloomed in all their colors. Also, picture it when the sky is clean, the streets are busy with neighbors, and your lawn is lush and green. Keep in mind that you can easily alter the outside of your home, but finding a capable home is not an easy feat. Considering the interiors more than the outside when buying a home in the winter is always the better choice.
Poor Negotiations
Some houses might have been on the market before the winter season began, and others entered the market in the winter coincidentally. So, when looking for a good deal, avoid giving negotiations that will offend the seller and jeopardize future deals.
Look at the house in question and assume you were the seller. Make an offer favorable to you as the buyer yet respectable to the seller.
Not Considering Long-Term Plans
Are you thinking of a mood and productivity booster kind of gift? Go for a house plant! Even if most people on your list don’t have a “green thumb,” plants like succulents are easy to take care of and bring a sense of calm to a home. Putting it in a hanging pot is also adorable enough to display in just about any room, and it only needs watering every ten days, so it’s easy to care for and enjoy.
Buying a Fixer-Upper
While it is initially cheaper to buy a fixer-upper home that needs work done, it is not always the best move.
Some fixer-uppers end up costing more money than you would have spent buying a moving-in-ready home. The costs of renovations and repairs might end even up being even double the amount of a single purchase, and it’s why getting a professional home inspection done before making any final decisions to know whether the home is a good investment or not is vital.
Not Expecting Delays
Winter home buying often presents several challenges such as unexpected weather interference, sellers being away for the holidays, or you, the buyer, having impromptu schedule changes.
That said, you must be patient with the whole process and not get frustrated if the home buying process doesn’t go as exactly planned. There are many reasons why a real estate closing is delayed, and it’s important to keep calm during the whole process.
