Tips for dealing with stress when house hunting
You turn on the television to a show featuring a couple browsing for their dream home accompanied by a peppy real estate agent who knows just the right spot. The couple falls in love with a home within their budget and they live happily ever after. While these shows are fun and easy to watch, they do little to show the actual stresses that come alongside house hunting. Between a highly-competitive market, an ongoing inventory shortage, and inspections, the process of finding a house is really quite stressful. It’s easy to fall victim to the anxieties of house hunting; here are some tips to help you through the process.
Work With a Good Realtor
The first step towards a low-stress situation is to find a real estate agent who you have a good relationship with. They should be your source for all of the questions and anxieties that accompany real estate. A good Realtor will act as your guide and will make it their top goal to find you a house that you can picture living in for the rest of your life potentially. When going through the process, it’s good to feel comfortable asking them all sorts of questions.
Be Realistic
Like we mentioned before, the television shows only show the glamorous side of house hunting. In reality, the process is tricky and fast moving. Especially nowadays, most houses are gone off the market with a quick home sale due to technology and everyone being able to view listings at all hours of the day. It’s not uncommon for people to find their perfect home only to see it off the market just the next day. It’s okay to fall in love with a home, but don’t fixate on certain properties. Understand that it might take a few attempts to make an offer before you’re successful.
Don’t Settle
In addition to being realistic that you might not get your first choice of home, it’s also very important not to settle. The burnout that comes alongside house hunting is real, but be mindful of not settling on a house that doesn’t wow you. It’s better to wait a little bit longer for a better opportunity than buying a house that you don’t want to live in. Before getting into the depths of your search, make a list of non-negotiables. This might mean that your home needs a private backyard, wood floors, lots of natural light, or whatever else. When you’re growing weary, revisit this checklist.
Take Breaks
Getting sucked into house hunting is very easy to do and can definitely make you feel burnt out. Don’t revolve your life around finding a house. During the process, be cognisant of taking breaks and doing activities that don’t involve finding a house. That way, when you come back, you’ll be refreshed and ready to go!
Finding a house should be an exciting experience, not a stressful one! According to top agent insights, the next few months should be popping in terms of real estate. This means that with some work a good realtor, you’ll find your dream home in no time!
