Buying a home is never a simple task; there are a number of aspects you have to take into consideration, ranging from the financing to the location. The one way to avoid common home buyer mistakes is to create a checklist. It will help keep you on track, even when the excitement of house hunting is at its most compelling!
- Budget- Assess how much you can afford. This is one of the most obvious points to add to your checklist and you will have to factor in the deposit, monthly bond repayments, fees, local taxes and ongoing maintenance costs
- Location- Ensure that this matches your lifestyle and that the neighbourhood is one that you would like to live in
- Type of Home- Decide whether you want to buy a flat, house, cluster house or townhouse etc
- Renovations- This is relevant when you are buying an older home. If it needs any repairs, renovations and upgrades, this will have to be factored into the asking price
- Security- Does the area look safe and is it free of signs of criminal activity like vandalism etc
- Proximity to Schools-If you have kids, this becomes an important factor. As a matter of fact, it’s important even if you don’t have children. When you want to sell, you will find that this one factor significantly boosts the value of your property
- Accessibility- If you are going to use public transportation to get to work, check on the availability services in the area
- Features- Create a list of features you want in your home. This will make it easy for you to eliminate the ones that don’t match your requirements. It will save you a lot of time when you go house hunting
- Surroundings- Just as you look for cleanliness and security, be on the lookout for any facilities that may create disturbances or unwanted noise in the area
- Research- Check for how long that house has been on the market and the duration the current owners have lived there. If possible also try to find out why the current owners are moving- this will help you ensure there is nothing wrong with that property
Sounds complicated? That’s why it’s also a good idea to do some research online on websites like www.privateproperty.co.za and www.property24.com to help narrow down the search, and present listings that perfectly match your requirements. Do this from the comfort of your own home.