How to dream big, but be realistic

The unfortunate truth is that all houses, no matter how well taken care of, or how new they are, have problems. When caught up in the process of buying a home, it’s easy to become idealistic and rigid about how perfect the house is going to be. In a world with hundreds of shows about home renovation and about people without budgets buying their dream houses, it’s understandable why so many of us panic when we find a great house and discover it has a few problems. 

However, as home inspectors, we understand first-hand the home buying process and problems that can be found in houses. Here are some of our tips on how to temper expectations, how to keep an open mind, and be in the right mindset to find your forever home.

five Tips to help home buyers temper expectations

1. Become knowledgeable about the housing market. This will help you set realistic expectations. Your agent can help you in this area as well (in fact, using an agent can help the complicated home buying process go a lot smoother in all areas). By understanding the market you’re searching in, you can get a better idea of what to expect for your budget and what you can realistically get. 

2. Speaking of budget, don’t forget to incorporate other expenses into your budget, such as any homeowners association costs, homeowner’s insurance, the inspection, closing fees, etc. This will also help curb surprise or disappointment later down the line. 

3. If you do your research on the house, get a home inspection, and are working with sellers who are transparent and fair, then you are going to be in good shape. Knowing about the problems in a house, and areas where problems may occur, is the first step. With these preemptive factors, you have less to fear and can be focused on how you’ll address the problems and get the house into the shape you want it in. 

4. Most problems in a house can be fixed. Obviously, not everyone is Chip and Joanna Gaines, and you don’t have to be! After your inspection, talk to your home inspector about their referrals to make a plan on how to fix major issues. Many smaller issues can be done DIY. Major issues that need to be worked out with the seller can be negotiated with the help of your agent. 

5. Turnkey homes are attractive options, but not always realistic for every budget. They are almost always more expensive than similar houses that just need some TLC. And even brand new turnkey houses can have issues as well. If you can afford a turnkey home and think it would be a good fit, then that’s great! But don’t be discouraged if that’s not an option. If you go for a house that needs some more renovations, you’ll be able to have more control over how it looks, ending up closer to your vision than a turnkey house could. 

Remember, houses are valuable because of the people inside them. No matter the house, it becomes a home because of the care put into it by the owner, and the love of the people inside of it. A house is an investment that may take time to pay off, but can eventually be the home you wanted.