The Key To Successful House Hunting.

Here is the Haus Talk guide to successful house hunting!

Step One:

Think.

Think about the specifics of what you are looking for. Think about your budget. Think about your commute. It’s not a bad idea to write a list and order it from most to least important. It’s going to get your priorities straight before you start searching.

Step Two:

Jump on the Google machine.

You don’t even have to leave the house to start your search anymore! Start looking for the things in your priority list. This is really just an idea generation phase. If you come across some features that you love add them to your wish list.

Step Three:

Think about your timeframe. Are you looking for an established home or do you want to build? Would you consider a townhouse? Each have their pros and cons. We’ll be writing more about each, so subscribe to hear more!

Step Four:

Check your wallet.

Have a chat to a broker. They have access to every lending product available from all financial institutions. They work for you, so they will be able to get you the best deal.

Brokers are paid by the lending institution that you obtain finance through. This means that you don’t have to pay their bill upfront.

Step Five:

Shop!

Go to open homes, display homes and land sales offices. Make sure that you are asking clever questions like, "what is your point of difference?" Typically, a builder won’t have your dream home on display, but most of them will work with you to tailor the design to your needs. So asking about point of difference will help you work out who you want to spend your time designing with. Again, land is usually land. Ask about the key point of difference. “Why would I buy from you and not the guy three doors down?”.

Step Six:

Pack water and take notes. Your notes will be great at 7:00pm when you’re sharing some wine with your spouse and discussing. They will help jog your memory. Take photos of things that you love as-well.

Step Seven:

Agent interaction.

Make the agent work for you. Get them to answer tough questions. Tell them exactly what you’re looking for and see if they can help. A lot of purchasers like to withhold details from the agent. That’s really only going to hurt you. The agent wants to help you to design something that you want. If you’re holding back information, you’ll just be unhappy with the final design.

Asking the agent if they have any conveyancing or finance partners can always be a great way of getting a discount. As an agent, I have a relationship with a conveyancer and I can help purchasers get a $200 discount on conveyancing. That’s not bad for asking a question!

Don’t be afraid to give out your details. These guys only want to call people that want to be called. If you move on and they call, be honest and they’ll probably take you off their call list.

Step 8:

Design Tools.

Use your Pinterest! Think about what you want your home to look like. Pinterest is a great free tool. You can create unlimited boards to help shape what your home will look like. Check out the Pinterest board that I have for my upcoming townhouse. Completion is expected to be April 2019. I add to it from time to time. It's just a great way to see what is in your head.

Step 9:

Be sure but be quick.

You will probably miss out if you take your time to decide. The market is still moving quickly despite popular opinion. Land releases sell out in minutes and builders put their prices up frequently. By this point, if you’ve gone through the steps properly, you should be in a position to make a decision. I should advise you to buy using logic, but most buyers purchase using 70% emotion. I bought Mazda’s new MX5 because I really enjoyed its performance! There was definitely minimal logic employed… Something for you to keep in mind.

Step 10:

Try to enjoy the process! It’s one of the rare occasions where you will get to be creative on a large scale.

House hunting can be an exciting time. All of those little ideas that you have had over the years as to what you want from your first home can finally start to come to life! However, it can also be a very stressful time. There are thousands of homes and hundreds of agents for you to consider. All of these options may seem frustrating, but the great news is, they are all there to help you! Happy hunting!

Think that we left something unanswered? Have you got a question? Why not jump over to the forum and join the conversation!