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Tips for Home Buying Success in Pittsburgh!
Home buying success is more than just finding the right home but also navigating the process smoothly.
There are few purchases in life that carry the financial and psychological weight of buying a home. Whether you are buying your first home, moving up to your dream home, or downsizing, it is important to understand the ground rules for success in the world of buying a home.
Buying a home can be an emotional process. That’s why it’s important to use a systemic approach to ensure that decisions are based on information and reason and not only on emotion.
There are five basic ground rules when it comes to buying a home, and they are:
#1 – Get pre-qualified before looking at houses.
There are few things in life as disappointing as losing out on the home of your dreams due to not being able to secure financing. While the desire to get out there and search for that great home is understandable, it is vital to line up the financing you will need before you start shopping for a home.
Getting the financing ahead of time has several significant advantages, including knowing how much you can buy. Knowing how much you can afford will avoid wasting your time looking at unaffordable properties.
It is also important to take a good look at the various types of mortgages before starting the home buying process. These days, mortgages come in far more choices; therefore, potential home buyers need to gauge which mortgage is the best choice for their needs.
#2 – Look at the community, not just the home.
It is good to look at the entire community instead of focusing on a single home. This can be a particularly important thing to consider for those moving to a new metropolitan area. As these buyers will be unfamiliar with the local climate and lifestyle. It is crucial to determine the areas of town that are most desirable. Also, consider things like distance from work and local shopping opportunities.
We have all heard that location is the key consideration for real estate, which is undoubtedly the case. Buying a house in the wrong area can be a big mistake. It is important to choose the location and the home. Potential buyers can learn a great deal about the nature of the various neighborhoods simply by driving around town and talking to residents. One helpful link for comparing areas is: 2021 Best Places to Live in the Pittsburgh Area – Niche
#3 – Be fair with your first offer.
It is important to evaluate the local market carefully and compare the home’s asking price with what similar houses in the neighborhood have sold for. With a lowball offer, you risk the possibility of insulting the seller or having your offer discarded in a multiple offer situation.
Comparing the sales of comparable homes, known as “comps” in the industry, is one of the best ways to determine what is fair and make sure that you neither overpay nor underbid on the property.
#4 – Consider getting a home inspection.
You will have the opportunity to investigate the home for any possible defects. Compared to the cost of the average home, the price of a quality home inspection is virtually negligible. Hence, getting a good home inspection done before you close is a good idea.
#5 – Do not alienate the sellers of the home.
Many real estate deals have fallen apart due to the personal animosity of the buyer and the seller. Therefore, it is important to avoid alienating the seller of the home during the process and avoid nitpicking every detail during the sale.
Keeping the seller’s goodwill will help the transaction go smoothly, and it will provide the best environment for the seller and buyer alike.
The competition has been extremely high in our current real estate market. You should have an experienced real estate agent working on your behalf to ensure home buying success. I am an Accredited Buyer Representative and am here to make your home buying process as smooth as possible!
Contact me by phone at 412-848-3907 or email at Kim.Esposito1@pittsburghmoves.com to schedule a free consultation to discuss your real estate needs.
Home Staging Tips for your Pittsburgh Home!
Even in a hot real estate market, it is essential to spend time staging your Pittsburgh home. Sellers who have taken the time to stage their homes have realized a quicker sale, multiple offers, and oftentimes sales prices above the asking price.
There is a psychology to home staging that allows homebuyers to picture themselves living in the home. Decluttering, furniture placement, and removing personal items help buyers visualize their lives there. You can successfully stage your Pittsburgh home without breaking the bank. Here are some money-saving tips that you can use.
- A thorough cleaning is the most valuable thing you can do to begin staging your home. Whether you do it yourself or hire a professional, it will be an excellent investment. Do the detailed work that is not on our weekly to-do lists, like wiping down baseboards, removing marks from walls, and cleaning grout. Buyers appreciate a clean home and may feel the house is maintained well.
- Create a welcoming atmosphere on the front porch. This is their first impression, so make it a good one. Buyers spend more time than most think at the front door. The agent needs to access the key to open the door, which gives the buyer time to look over the front porch. After a thorough cleaning, you can set the stage relatively inexpensively with some potted flowers, a fresh doormat, and a welcoming wreath on the front door.
- Reuse and repurpose decorative items. Go through your home and evaluate the items you have. You may also have some things in storage that you are not currently using. Determine the feel you want for each room and sort the items you have that will evoke that feeling.
- Create a telescope. If you have a formal dining room, set the table as you would for a special occasion dinner. Create a simple lunch or dinner table in the kitchen. Setting the tables helps visualize daily life.
- Green your home with houseplants. House plants are a great space filler, but they are also known to clean the air. Strategically place easy to care for plants throughout your home. Keep the plants well-manicured.
- Create comfortable, cozy spaces. You may want to create a relaxing area in front of the television or a reading nook. Using some inexpensive blankets and throw pillows can help set that scene.
- Use mirrors to make your spaces feel open and more expansive. If you have a small room that you would like to feel larger, using a mirror can help. Using a larger mirror works best to achieve the result you want. Hanging mirrors and artwork at the average person’s eye level (60 inches from the floor) is recommended.
- Don’t clutter bookshelves. Use books and decorative items on the shelves, but leave open spaces. Psychologically this allows the buyer to feel there is room for their items too.
- Books can be a great decorative item that prompts a cozy feeling. You can find inexpensive books at thrift stores if you need to purchase them. Books can be used in areas other than bookshelves too. Try elevating a small lamp with a stack of books, create a vignette near the sofa with books and a blanket, and don’t forget the popular coffee table books.
- Paint if necessary. Bold color choices may be overwhelming to a buyer. Neutral colors appeal to a broader range of buyers. If you have a room that is an unusual color or personalized in some way, it may be wise to invest in a gallon of paint to repaint the room before listing the house.
Staging your Pittsburgh home may not be how you actually live in your home. But, when done correctly, any inconvenience will be short for your household when it sells quickly. Then you can start packing!
With 18 years of experience in the local Pittsburgh real estate market, I can guide you through the home selling process. Contact me by phone at 412-848-3907 or email at Kim.Esposito1@pittsburghmoves.com to schedule a free consultation to discuss your real estate needs.
