Steps to Buying a Home

What Do I Do During the Home Buying Process?

If this is your first home buying experience, or if you simply haven’t purchased a home in a while, Legacy wants to help you make the process as simple and satisfying as possible. Here are a few tips to help you navigate the steps you need to take when buying a home.

Finding the Right Home

There are several things to consider when you begin looking for a home. To start, you have to decide what types of home features you want based on your lifestyle needs. You need to think about issues like how much square footage you want, how many bedrooms you need, whether or not you would like to have a basement, how large you want your yard to be, and if you will need more space in the future for a growing family. These fundamental decisions will help you choose the best home style for you.

Another important matter is location. You will need to consider where your home will be in relation to where you work and where your children will attend school. In addition, you should find a location that offers you convenient local amenities like shopping, dining, and entertainment venues.

Once you’ve decided what you need and where you want to live, it’s time to find the right home for you. In this area, you have two alternatives – a new home or a resale. When it comes to a resale, be sure to find out the age of the house, property values in the area, inspection costs, and the look and feel of the home as it is.

If you have your heart set on a new home, be sure to choose a builder who has a lot of experience and an excellent reputation. You’ll have to make sure that this builder works in the location where you want to reside and offers the type of home you want. In addition, be sure that your builder offers a solid warranty program for after the sale.

Working with the Builder and the Sales Agent

During the home buying process, you will work with both the builder and the onsite sales representative. While the builder will be able to provide all of the details about the construction of your home, the onsite sales agent in a community often is there to act as a liaison between the builder and the buyer. The agent not only sells you the home; he or she should be considered as a source of information about the house, the neighborhood, and the local area. In fact, the builder and the sales agent should work together to provide you with a positive buying – and building – experience.

Asking Questions

If you have looked at a model home and are ready to begin the purchase of your new residence, you have the right to ask any and all questions about the house itself and your builder that you feel are important. Some questions you might want to ask include, but are not limited to:

Which features are actually included in the quoted base price? (Model homes often include all of the bells and whistles, and some of these features may not be included.)
How much customizing can be done in the home?
Are upgrades available?
Does the quoted price include landscaping?
How long does the construction process take?
Who will be the onsite supervisor overseeing the construction (or completion) of my home?
When will the walkthrough inspection take place? How quickly will the builder address my punch list (a list of items that need to be corrected before closing)?
Does the builder offer a warranty program?
Will the builder provide a list of references or recent buyers I can contact?
What types of financing options are available to me?
Is there a Homeowners Association? What is the annual fee?
What types of guidelines are included in the covenant?
What types of local amenities are nearby (stores, emergency facilities, etc.)?
What school district is this community in? How are the schools rated?
Do you know of any major developments or changes for the local area in the next few years?

If you do your research ahead of time, buying a home should be an exciting event. At Legacy Communities, we’ll take you through the process step-by-step and ensure that your experience is a positive one.