Hi lovelies,

Buying a new home is an incredibly emotional process. It might be because you’re stepping onto the property ladder for the first time. Maybe you’re house-hunting for a forever home with your closest loved one. Or you’re moving on from a place already full of joy and memories.

But these emotions can sometimes get in the way of doing it right. There are things you need to check and boxes to tick. And overlooking even the tiniest issue could leave you with bills to pay way into the future that wasn’t accounted for.

To help you find your dream home with as little stress as possible, here’s your one-stop-shop guide about hunting for your dream home. And the common mistakes people make.

Common Mistakes To Avoid
Making mistakes and then learning from them is a part of life. But thankfully, in the house-hunting game, other people have made those mistakes for you. So here are 5 mistakes you need to avoid.

Not Knowing Your Budget
When it comes to finding your dream home, once you’ve seen it, there’s no going back. You’ll fall in love with everything about it, including the lifestyle. But if the house you now love is way over budget, you’re just hurting yourself. Make sure your budget is clearly defined, and you only search in that strict price bracket. It’ll save you the pain of finding the perfect home that you just can’t afford. Plus, it’ll stop you from going into debt.

Not Shopping Around
Similar to falling in love with a dream home that’s too expensive, you can fall in love with the first house you view. And the temptation just to take the plunge and put an offer in can be too great to fight. But for a good house hunt, you must resist! Not shopping around enough means you just don’t get a good enough idea of what’s on the market. And you may miss out on something that ticks more boxes than the first.

Ignoring The Neighborhood
You can’t predict the future, so you won’t know what’s in store for your chosen neighborhood. But you can do some research. Make sure to check if there are any major plans in the pipeline for the area. And if you’re visiting on a quiet day, check out the site at rush hour. It can make or break a place if busy streets are an absolute no-no for your family.

Skipping The Inspection
Once you’ve found a home, it can be tempting to rush through the paperwork and miss out on things like home inspections. But skipping it could cost you. Inspections show you possible problems or issues with the property that the average joe wouldn’t pick up. Of course, you can still go ahead if the problem isn’t a deal-breaker. But having an inspection puts you on a better footing in the buyers’ game.

Rushing Into It
In the housing market, it’s sometimes necessary to make an offer quickly if you want to snap up a hot property. But you still need to ensure the house works for you long-term. So try to avoid getting caught up in the whirlwind that purchasing property can be.

Before You Begin The Search
Now that you know what not to do, there are some key things to consider before you start to view properties.

Define Your Lifestyle
Figure out what makes you tick. Defining your lifestyle will help you narrow down search criteria for the house and the neighborhood that’s right for you.

Consider What Matters Most
Make a list of what means the most to you. It can be anything, from a huge garden for your dogs or having your workplace within walking distance. Anything that you can do without should be top of the list.

Be Realistic
When searching for a new home, it’s tempting to have a huge list of requirements. You want it to be perfect after all. But be realistic about what you want. Especially when it comes to budget. If you don’t have a lot of cash, some things might need to be sacrificed.

Separate Your Wants From Your Needs
Knowing the difference between your wants and needs will help you separate the wheat from the chaff. Especially if you have a small budget and some wants need to go. It also helps when you have 2 houses that tick all the needs boxes. You can use the wants list to decide which house does more for you.

It’s Time To Start Viewing
The time has come to take the plunge and view some properties. While you’re in the homes, there are a few questions you should be asking yourself and the realtor.

Is The Building Structurally Sound?
Are The Rooms Big Enough?
Is There Storage Space?
Can You Extend Onto The House?
How Old Is The Roof?
Do The Windows Look Good?
How Many PowerPoints Are There?
Is There Damp?
Have You Looked Past The Staging?

There are many more things you can ask, but these are often forgotten. They’re all geared to figuring out if the space works for you. And whether you’ll have to do any work once you get in or in the future. Asking questions gives you a fuller picture of the property, so you know exactly what you’re getting into.

The Next Step
Your next big step will be whittling down choices and making offers. For the best advice when you get here, talk with your realtor. They’ll have all the lowdown on the houses and may even know the sellers well. Having a good relationship with the realtor makes the whole process simpler. And they’re the ones with the experience. So use it to your advantage.