You want to feel confident as you make one of the most significant purchases of your lifetime, buying a house. Many of us have heard home buyer remorse stories from friends who realized the house they purchased was not a good fit for their family. Without researching the pros and cons, buying a home quickly may lead to regrets. Let's avoid home-buying remorse by learning a few tips that will leave you confident about your home purchase.

1. Maintenance

A yard may be high on your "wants" list when looking at houses to buy. You can plant flowers and shrubs; the kids can run through the sprinklers; you can enjoy BBQs with friends and so much more. Then you move into the house and realize the yard requires a lot of maintenance and consumes a good part of your weekend. Before buying a home, consider how big the yard is and if you will have time to maintain the lawn and gardens.

"Yard maintenance is eating up my Saturdays!"

No matter how new the house you wish to buy, you will be faced with maintenance on the interior and exterior. It's essential to get a home inspection before purchasing a house to be aware of necessary repairs. Talk to your real estate agent about the house's condition before making an offer. Your agent may be able to get the seller to pay for some of the repairs before you close on the house. 

2. Wrong Location

You've probably heard it before, location, location, location is important when buying a home. If you buy a house in a good neighborhood, you are more likely to see it appreciate in value. What if that same home is in an area with traffic noise, just blocks away from a busy thoroughfare?

"Will I ever get used to the sound of traffic near my house?"

Visit the home you intend to buy at different times throughout the day. Multiple home visits will give you a better idea of the noise level from traffic and nearby businesses (ex. a loud carwash business). Seeing the house at different times, especially in the evening and on the weekend, will allow you to see what happens in the neighborhood when families are home. Does a neighbor have band practice in their garage in the evenings? I would want to know this before moving into a new home.

3. Surroundings

When considering a house to buy, look closely at the surrounding neighborhood. Does the second story of your neighbor's house look into your main bedroom? Do giant trees block the sunshine from getting into the house? Do you share a driveway with your neighbors? How busy is the neighborhood park behind the house? Take time to look at the immediate surroundings and the overall neighborhood before making an offer on a house.

"My neighbors are so noisy!"

4. Lack of Research

Imagine the excitement of buying a newly built house only to learn it has a long list of problems. After purchasing a home, you don't want to be faced with baseboards that weren't installed correctly, windows that don't close properly, or a front door open that flies open every time there's a windstorm. I worked for a builder in a new subdivision and learned firsthand the many problems associated with shoddy construction. Avoid buyer's remorse anxiety by talking to your RealtorⓇ before buying a house to learn more about the builder and the level of craftsmanship in their homes.  

"I regret buying a new house!"

Conclusion

We want you to be able to buy a house without regrets. You can avoid buyer's remorse by understanding the amount of maintenance required, knowing the pros and cons of the home's location, visiting the home at various times of day, taking into account the surrounding neighborhood, and researching new construction. Your RealtorⓇ is your best resource for learning about the pros and cons of buying a home so you can make the best decision for you and your family.

If you want to learn  more about buying a house, please check out Reazo's comprehensive home buyer's guide: