How To Avoid Buying The Home Of Your Nightmares

Are you thinking about moving house soon? If so, you want to move into the house of your dreams, and not your nightmares, so great care needs to be taken. Considering the expense involved, you need to make the right decision. Otherwise, you might suffer home buyer's remorse.

So, how can you avoid buying the home of your nightmares? Consider the following to help you channel your search.

You need to think about how much money you have to play with. Acquiring a mortgage is one of your first steps, but don't borrow more than you can reasonably afford to pay back. Remember all of the other ongoing costs that come with a house, such as insurance and utility bills, as you don't want to find yourself in over your head financially. Starting out in your home steeped in debt you can't afford is not a good way to begin your next chapter.

You need to be mindful of buying a money pit. Don't be tempted to buy a house that appears to be a bargain. Some properties are cheap for a reason, and being a money pit is one of these reasons. When viewing any properties, always take somebody with you if you don't know the signs of a money pit. They might be able to spot things you don't. And always hire a building surveyor before you put down a deposit, in case of any hidden issues. Otherwise, you might end up moving into a home that could not only fall down around your ears but could cause you further financial woes through constant maintenance.

You need to know what you want from your new home. If you had the budget, you could hire luxury home builders to fashion your property from scratch, giving you every feature on your property buying bucket list. But if you don't have the cash to splash, then you will want to find somewhere that closely approximates your ideal. While there will have to be compromises - it's rare to find something that is absolutely perfect - you should still look for something that is suitable for you and your family. Talking of which…

You need to think about the future when looking for a home. It's no good buying a small property if you later intend to extend your family, for example. While there are ways to make your home bigger, you should still try to find something that will accommodate your future plans. You might only be forced to move again, otherwise, or make do with living accommodation that is no longer fit for purpose. Think about the plans you have for your future, and ensure the home you buy is able to withstand them.

You need to think about the location of the properties you look at. The location is very important, as you don't want to move somewhere that causes you discomfort and unhappiness. You should look at crime statistics for a start, as you don't want to live somewhere considered dangerous. You also want to ensure you can commute to work, get your kids to a decent school, and have neighbours who might be halfway decent. Do your research, walk around the neighbourhood, and knock on the door of the people next door to try to get an initial impression. Otherwise, you might buy the home of your dreams, but still end up living in the location of your worst nightmares!

.This is a contributed post written for WhimMagazine.com