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Why Home Flaws Are Not Always Faults
For first time homebuyers, going home shopping is an exciting--though sometimes stressful—experience. Everyone has an idea of how they want their dream home to look. After all, this is going to be a place where you may spend your life, or at the very least several years. But it’s important not to let superficial cosmetic deficits get in the way of that vision. Ugly carpet, outdated wallpapering, weed-filled yards—these are all relatively simple fixes. Don’t let them blind you from a home that has true potential. In a market like this, where houses are being snapped up left and right due to their low prices, quibbling over minor imperfections will only hurt you in the long run. Start off on the right foot by getting pre-approved for a mortgage and calculate the maximum offer you can make on a house. Avoid looking at any homes that are over 5 percent of this figure, otherwise you may be setting yourself up for a letdown if you discover your dream home, and then realize it’s beyond what you can afford. So what imperfections should you look past and what should give you pause? First, pay attention to the floor plan. It can be modified through renovating, of course, but unless you’ve factored that cost into the price of the home, it may be better to find a plan you like from the start, or at least one you can live with. Walls, window treatments, and floors are all fairly easy to alter. If you are appalled by the current appearance of any of these on your first impression, keep in mind how a few simple changes can make a huge difference without much effort on your part. The same applies to landscaping, which is usually an easier project to take on yourself. Kitchens are often a big tipping point, as they are one of the most frequently used rooms in the house. Discouraging as it may be to find an outdated kitchen in the home you like, remember that a new coat of paint will work wonders. New appliances can also help get the room into the current decade, and if you decide to go all out, new cabinets, counters, and floors will give your kitchen a true makeover. When you finally make your offer, be certain of what you can live with as well as what you can’t, keeping your budget in mind. Always get the house inspected by a professional, and if the structure and systems are in good shape, proceed with your offer. Unless you’re building your home from the ground up, you’re unlikely to stumble across a house that has every feature you want straight off the bat. But if you’re willing to accept a few minor flaws, with a little work you can get the home you’ve always wanted. |
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