Things to Ignore When Home Shopping

When viewing homes, sometimes you might see things that you, personally, might not like decor or even style-wise. Such as bright paint colors, a treadmill in the kitchen or even creepy family portraits in every room. But no worries, don’t let it bug you.

Sellers technically aren’t required to get their homes in their best condition, although we always help our sellers to prepare, before showing them — let alone cleaning their home before listing. So as a buyer, try to look past this when viewing homes…it could always work out in your favor if you can look past these things especially if you love the home, layout or location.

Walls and floors….easy fix!

Many buyers today generally prefer a home that’s turn-key or move-in ready. They’re so busy with their day-to-day lives that the thought of taking on a renovation is too much — but painting walls and replacing carpets isn’t always time-consuming or expensive, and you can always do these projects before moving in. If you love everything about the home but the paint or carpet, why not just make it your own by picking out THE exact wall color or carpet you would like.  When making an offer on any home, we an even ask for these costs back as an allowance- if the seller is able to admit that this was something they could have fixed BEFORE they listed. A fresh coat of paint and finished floors or new carpet won’t break the bank or take more than a week, and the end product will be a like-new home for you to move into.

Is that dining room not being used as a dining room?

It’s not uncommon to see a home’s formal dining room transformed into a full-fledged office or even a sitting area. Some homeowners even use their study as an extra bedroom- even though there is not always a closet.  Just because the homeowner uses these spaces in a way that suits them, doesn’t mean you have to do the same…look past what they have there to visual what you could use that space for. These rooms might stand out as odd to you, but try remember that the seller lives there and they will take the stuff from that room with them when they go leaving you a clean slate.

Once they’ve moved out, the dining room will be a space that just needs a great light fixture and table if you plan to use as a dining or that study just needs office furniture to change the look. Who knows..you may even get a good idea of how to use a space differently than how you first intended.

Do you see the seller everywhere?

It is sometimes difficult for a buyer to imagine themselves in a home if it’s full of the seller’s photos, diplomas and other personal belongings. Some buyers will tell you that homes that are neutral and lacking any items specific to the owner are they ones they like the best.  What can sometimes be worse is when the seller is present at a showing as it makes everyone uncomfortable. The buyers feel like they need to be on their best behavior and can’t explore the house like they would normally or freely talk out loud about what they see.  Try to look past all of this as again, don’t forget the seller is taking all of their personal belongings with them including the photos. And for those that have the seller present, they may sit longer on the market due to this reason so it could be to your advantage when making that offer.

If you see a home online that’s in a great location with a floor plan that’s ideal, go see it. Ignore the things you can change, and think about whether you can make the home your own or not…looks past all of these items and more. With a good agent on your side, we can also help advise on costs of renovations needed or whether or not these things can help your offer be to your advantage. Keeping an open mind when viewing homes can help you find THE home for you, sometimes for less!