I’m a mom of two and I know firsthand how crazy this stage of life can be. Add in the stress of buying or selling a home and it can be completely overwhelming! That’s why as a realtor I work hard to make the home buying process as smooth and stress free as possible for my clients! I know that they are busy moms and dads who need as much guidance and support as they can get. And that’s what I am here for!
Let me start by saying that as a reader of Columbia SC Moms Blog – you are MY people! I am a mom of two – a four month old girl and a two year old boy. I grew up in the Columbia area and attended the University of South Carolina. I love the Midlands and I share my favorite spots on my blog, Andrea Sells the Midlands. My favorite part of my job is helping families find their forever homes in the perfect Columbia neighborhood! Along the way I have discovered a few tips to help my clients navigate this exciting chapter in their lives!
1. Choose the Right Realtor
Often people think of a realtor as someone who just open doors, but a true real estate professional is so much more. From helping you connect with lenders to obtain financing, negotiating deals, assisting you with legal contracts, guiding you through the due diligence inspection period, completing the repair addendum, to ensuring repairs are completed – a great realtor is always working hard to protect and look out for your best interest! Our job is to make life as easy and smooth as possible! We are here to help guide you and advocate for you throughout the home buying process and beyond.
2. Know Your Budget & Loan Options
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is starting your home search without knowing how much house you can afford. Often people get so excited about a new home they forget to think about all of the expenses that go into homeownership like taxes and insurance. Taking a look at homes that are out of your budget is a quick way to get discouraged. It’s like taking a ride in a Mercedes-Benz only to realize that you can only afford the Chevy Equinox (Love my Equinox mommy mobile).
To avoid this heartbreak I always ask my clients to reach out to a professional mortgage lender to see how much home they can afford, to be sure they are comfortable with the monthly payments and to obtain a prequalification letter. A lender will also educate you on the different loan programs and discuss which loan is the best fit for your family. After speaking to a lender my clients feel informed and prepared to start with the fun part of the process – touring the homes!
3. Find the Perfect Neighborhood for Your Family
The Midlands is full of great neighborhoods! Decide what is important for your family – proximity to work, extracurricular activities, and/or school district. Your realtor can assist you with this by providing school district information and helping you choose a location that meets the needs of your family.
4. Make a “Must Have” List
Every family is different and every home is different! My job is to help you find the perfect home for your family. I ask my clients to write down their “must haves”. This is a list of features that are non-negotiable and very important to them.
Often these lists include the minimum number of bedrooms and bathrooms, minimum amount of square footage needed, and other essential factors such as a large backyard for the kids. This list helps me narrow down the options available and help my clients to not be overwhelmed by hundreds of homes. My job is to look through every home on the market and gather the ones that meet my clients “must haves”. From there my clients decide which homes look like they could be “the one” and we set up a time to see the homes.
5. Remember Paint is an Easy Change
When searching for a home try to look past the cosmetics and focus on the overall floor plan and how the space will work for your family. For example, if the layout of the home would be a great fit for your family, then the paint color can easily be changed. Be sure to overlook furnishings as well, as those are not included in the home purchase. Try to envision the space with your family and your furniture in the home. Can you see your children enjoying breakfast in the breakfast nook and building Legos in the playroom? If so, then you may have just found the perfect home for your family!
Looking for a Great Realtor? I Can Help! (Plus Free Valuable Gift!)
I hope that these tips help you feel more confident once you start your home search but don’t get overwhelmed! The most important advice I can give you is to have fun and enjoy finding and purchasing the home of your dreams! And if you are looking for a realtor who will have your back, work hard for you and put your families needs first please reach out to me anytime! You can contact me by phone at (803) 604-7736 or by e-mail at [email protected]. I look forward to helping you with your home buying and selling needs!
