A Complete Guide to Buying Your Next Home in Asheville.
Is this your situation? You currently own a home that’s not suitable for all your needs. Maybe your family is growing so you need more space. Or maybe you’re empty–nesters looking to simplify with a little less. Whatever your specific reasons, you are ready to put your home on the market and find another one better suited to your lifestyle. There are a lot of things to consider in the process of buying your next home.. There are a lot of “How To” lists available, but what about the reasons why? Here is a complete guide to buying your next home to help you make these crucial decisions.
Likes and Dislikes
If you’re thinking of selling your home, the first recommendation is to make a list of things you like and dislike about your current house. This will help inform not only the underlying reasons why your home doesn’t work for you but give you a starting point for your next house.
You want to take a look at both small- and large-scale items on your list. Maybe your house is too small because your family has grown. You need additional bedrooms to accommodate a growing family. Or maybe your home is too big because you have extra rooms you don’t use. All of these are valid reasons.
Keep in mind the cosmetic things that can simply be changed for a small investment. You may not need to move because you don’t like the carpeting in your bedroom, but there could be other aspects compounding your dislike for the home itself.
Reasons for Change
Once you’ve created your list, take a look at the things in your life that are informing this decision. There are so many possible life changes that could make you take a second look at selling your current home and buying a new one.
- Marriage
- Children
- Divorce
- Maintenance
- Commute
- Job Change
- Accessibility
There are no reasons for wanting a change in your home that are better or worse than any other. They’re all personal for you, so make sure you’re handling this process in way that aligns with your goals and situation.
The Right Neighborhood
Neighborhood has a lot to do with your satisfaction in a home. If you want to be more isolated, living in a bustling community will not be a good fit for you. On the flip side, if what you crave is healthy interaction with your neighbors, you wouldn’t want to be in a remote area.
Finding the right neighborhood is just as important as finding the right house. Real estate professionals often specialize in areas of town, so talk with several to see who will be able to help you make the right selling and buying decisions.
The Best Schools
For some homebuyers, the transition is about schools. You may have bought your first home before you had children, so the quality of the school system or availability of programs weren’t a top priority.
If this has changed, you can talk with real estate professions about the school districts in the greater Asheville area to help narrow down the type of home you prefer, the neighborhood you want to live in, and access to quality education for your growing family.
Downsizing or Upsizing
With the popularity of the Netflix show featuring Japanese organization expert Marie Kondo, there’s a lot of attention being paid to the notion of simplifying and downsizing. This can be done in the extreme by moving into a tiny home or ADU, but it doesn’t have to be so drastic.
But you may just want to leave behind 2,500 square feet for an easier to manage 1,500 square feet. Or you may want to increase the size of your home to accommodate your family, your hobbies, or guests. Whatever the case, it’s important to know what you want before you put your current home on the market and find another.
Your Commute
For many people, the impetus to sell a home is wrapped up with their commute. As traffic is on the rise throughout the Asheville area, you need to think about whether or not a drive on 26 to the far reaches of the community is really in your best interest.
Maybe you need to move closer than where you live now. Putting your home on the market needs to be done in conjunction with this consideration, including the viability of your current job and whether or not you feel stable in employment.
Proximity To Your Favorite Things
Maybe your need to sell your home is not about the home itself but your desire for a very different lifestyle. If you find yourself engaging in activities that aren’t conducive to your current living situation, changing your home may be a good solution.
For example, if you enjoy going downtown to have drinks and dinner but you live 30 minutes away, you aren’t living the life you want and your home doesn’t need to be the thing holding you back.
The Nuts and Bolts
After reviewing the reasons why, it’s also important to know the steps you need to take to put your home on the market. There are a lot of things that could impact your ability to sell.
- Know the market: Talk to professionals who can give you a sense of how long homes are staying on the market and what kinds of offers they’re getting.
- Get an inspection: Yes, the buyer will need to get their own as well, but having an inspection done prior to selling will eliminate the worst of the surprises.
- Stage your home: Remember, you want buyers to see themselves in the house, not concentrate on your accessories or color choices. Neutralize it and remove many personal effects.
- Spend money wisely: There are tons of things you could do to your home, but not all of them will give you anything in return. Don’t do unnecessary upgrades.
- Hire the right agent: Not every agent is the same, and some will be better equipped to sell your home. It’s okay to interview several and make a choice.
- Pay attention to the listing: While you trust your agent to help you sell you home, you can help along the way. Make sure the photographs show your home in the best light and the description is exciting to potential buyers.
- Be realistic about the price: Don’t be stubborn about the price to sell your home. If you really want to move, consider multiple price points and allow your agent to talk you through the process.
Making A Contingent Offer
If you buy at the same time as you sell your home, you can talk to your realtor about the option of a contingent offer. The effectiveness of this process will largely depend on the current market, but it’s not uncommon for buyers to need to sell their home before they can move.
Of course, selling your home means you’ll want to buy another. To do that with confidence, you should speak to GoPrime Mortgage, Inc. . to learn more about loan options and buying your next home.
