If you have two or more homes you are interested in purchasing, but are struggling to decide between them, you’re not alone.
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Tony Harrington from Bendigo’s Tony Harrington Estate Agents says many home buyers they help in finding their next property have a range of potential options, and struggle to decide between those on their shortlist. And while it can be difficult to choose the home that’s right for you, there are ways to make the process easier.
CHECKLISTS
“The first way to quickly decide between homes is to create a checklist of attributes that are important to you in a home and to rank them based on how crucial they are,” says Tony. “This provides a clinical and methodical way of comparing many properties and keeping details about the homes available. You can also take photographs on your phone to jog your memory when comparing them. It’s important to ask your agent for permission to do this.”
With this checklist, you can see whether your more desirable attributes and home features are absent and will remember to look for crucial factors you might have overlooked on the day. Checklist items to consider include the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the quality of the finishes and its proximity to local amenities.
A SECOND OPINION
Tony says it never hurts to get a second opinion when you are unsure about your options. “Find someone you trust, who knows what you are looking for, and explain to them your difficulty,” he says. “Then ask them to come to an inspection with you. Make sure you do not sway their thoughts and allow them to come to their own conclusion about the home and its value for money. When they have made up their mind, ask them to be honest about which home they thought would suit you better. If you find yourself heavily defending the property they did not favour or making excuses as to why you aren’t so keen on their preferred home, you may have already subconsciously decided the property you should buy.”
FUTURE POTENTIAL
“The future possibilities of the home could be the make or break that helps you make up your mind,” says Tony. “While the home may be a good option now, areas and homes are fast changing in growing cities. Speak to the real estate agent about any upcoming changes in the areas, such as new transport connections or developments.”
You should also consider the future upside of the home. Is it likely to grow in value? Can you renovate it to add value down the track? Would you be able to rent the home out if you had to? Even homes that seem identical today can have vastly different futures. Understanding the potential of a property may be what makes it stand out from the others.