I already have some pre-req's for what I want, but I don't have my heart set on anything just yet. I want to stay on the side of Indy I'm already on, I don't want a vinyl house, or a house where the houses are 6' away from each other (yikes, privacy please!)
I would love to get a 3 bedroom home (this is going to sound terrible, bear with me) that an older couple lived in and have moved on. Something that has great bones, but maybe hasn't been updated since the 70's/80's because I have such a love for interior design and colors. I can envision the ways I would update it and that's a challenge that I yearn for!
I would love to get a 3 bedroom home (this is going to sound terrible, bear with me) that an older couple lived in and have moved on. Something that has great bones, but maybe hasn't been updated since the 70's/80's because I have such a love for interior design and colors. I can envision the ways I would update it and that's a challenge that I yearn for!
So, my dear friends, I need your advice! Any words of wisdom you want to offer to a first time looker/buyer are very welcomed! I've heard to bring a camera with me to shoot photos while I'm there to remind me of all the little details, but what other things should I make sure to do/check/inspect/think about??
PS I fully blame my desire to renovate a home on YoungHouseLove, BowerPower and RussetStreetReno just to name a few!
PS I fully blame my desire to renovate a home on YoungHouseLove, BowerPower and RussetStreetReno just to name a few!
13 comments:
Email me...what side of town are you on?!
Exciting!! Being a homeowner is great!
We bought our first house a couple years ago (and am now selling it, sob) but the first time homebuying can be terrifying! Look for anything that can be cosmetically improved - you don't want to be ripping out a kitchen, but if you can just paint the cabinets, easy fix! (And fun!) Make sure you will have plenty of storage (split levels somewhat lacking this). Make sure that you can envision functionality in every room. We ended up with two rooms where we were like...um...??? They ended up being filled with random furniture.
Go back to look at a house several times and LOOK AT EVERY house! It may not be what you want, but you'll know what you don't want that way!
How exciting! I havn't crossed that bridge yet so I don't have any advice for you but I can't wait to read about your hunt :)
My best advice is don't rush it. We looked and looked and I got tired of looking so we...ugly word...settled on the place we bought and now we're tired of it and the market sucks in Florida so we'll be here for awhile.
Take your time and make an informative decision and not an emotional one :)
Oh and absolutely get an inspection so there are no surprises!
I. can. not. wait. to buy a house. I think i'll be purchasing one next year, once I know the area in IA I want to live in.
Good luck on your hunt! Can't wait to hear all about it!
I have the same thought as Domesticated-Bliss; when Toe and I bought our house, it was super rushed, and we jumped in without really doing enough research. It turned out well, but buying a house is so darn stressful that sometimes you just want to get it done! Enjoy the process, and try to imagine what a typical night in the house would look like...Can you see yourself in the space? That's always important.
But have FUN, good luck, and enjoy the process!!
congrats chelsea - thats awesome news! i would highly recommend taking pictures so you can refresh your memory with all the ideas (i did it for decoration ideas too). i would also recommend making lists of what you like vs what you don't - i did this and it really helped. I also put the pictures with my lists so i could compare them all equally (i.e. fill out a form that you make regarding # of bedrooms, bathrooms, garage (attached or not), parking, size of kitchen,). the other thing is to bring someone with you when you are looking - i am a big fan of support of others, and others opinions - a house is a big deal (but so much fun at the same time). bring someone with creative taste who has similar style as yours - it will help! good luck! i wish you the best of luck :)
Good luck! I am sooooo ready for a house - next winter probably. Update us on how it goes!!
Congrats on the search for your first home!! How exciting. A few tips I received when I started looking...
- Pay attention to costs of HOA dues (if looking in areas with HOA dues). They can get VERY expensive.
- I found grabbing a flyer and making notes after looking at the house on the flyer (and making note of the picture numbers that went with that house) helped me to remember. It doesn't even have to be specifics about the house. If I saw an ugly blue bedspread or something I would make note remember the bedroom.
- On the other hand, make sure not to get distracted by the current owner's furnishings because the house can look completely different without dingy/old furniture.
- Obviously look at the surrounding houses.
- Look for slight cracks in the walls and dips in the flooring which may lead to structure issues.
I could obviously go on and on, because there is a lot. But the most important thing is to have fun and pay attention to how you feel in the home. When I was in real estate, we would find the home that matches every aspect of our client's check list but it wouldn't feel right to them and then they would walk through the door of a home that didn't have it all and put an offer on the house!
woohoo!! good luck and dont rush it!
ooh how exciting! house hunting can be both exciting and scary. just be prepared for a long process. hopefully it be short though. oh and if you don't get the first house you want, it's okay. there's more :)
No advice hear since I haven't bought a house but that is so awesome you are :-) Congrats!
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